BULLETIN/NEWSLETTERS

FSA News No. 82 November 2008 (14th November 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 46 (14th November 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 47 (21st November 2008)

CANCER

Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy: For better, for worse? (November 2008)
This National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) report highlights the process of care of patients who died within 30 days of receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT). It takes a critical look at areas where the care of patients might have been improved. Remediable factors have been identified in the clinical and the organisational care of these patients.
Report
Executive Summary
Slides
Self assessment checklist for trusts
Other presentations and to order a hard copy

Control of pain in adults with cancer – a national clinical guideline (November 2008)
This guideline from Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) provides recommendations based on current evidence for best practice in the management of pain in adult patients who have cancer. It excludes treatment of pain in children under the age of 12 years.
Guideline

New measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2004 (18th November 2008)
Revised UGI, urology, breast and lung measures accompanying the Manual for Cancer Services.
Cover letter
UGI measures
Urology measures
Breast measures
Lung measures
Equality impact assessment

CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

PL/CMO/2008/8, PL/CNO/2008/8: Recognising Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – ‘Think CO’ (13th November 2008)
The Chief Medical Officer issued a joint letter with the Chief Nursing Officer, to encourage health professionals to raise awareness of the risk of CO poisoning. There are approximately 50 accidental deaths and over 200 cases of recorded non-fatal injuries per year in the UK from CO poisoning.
Letter
Equality Impact Assessment

CARE/CARERS

Developing the use of MDS-RAI reports for UK care homes (21st November 2008)
The MDS-RAI (the Minimum Data Set Resident Assessment Instrument) is a standardised assessment system developed by interRAI used internationally to raise standards of care in long-term care homes. Implementation in the UK has been sparse and currently there are no well-established demonstration sites for use in long-term care (although Cheshire has adopted and successfully implemented the MDS-HC (the Minimum Data Set Home Care) for community care). Successful implementation of the MDS-RAI requires a methodical approach and commitment: it is a way of developing best practice that goes far beyond just gathering information about care needs. This project aimed to develop an implementation process model for MDS-RAI use in three UK care homes through an iterative and collaborative process.
Report
Findings

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

What is a Children’s Trust? (19th November 2008)
A summary leaflet has been produced setting out what Children's Trusts are, what they do, and the role the NHS has to play in them. New developments include a Commissioning Support Programme available to all Children's Trust partners and the new Centre for Excellence and Outcomes (C4EO), which will draw together evidence to support Childrens' Trusts improve cross-sector service delivery.
Leaflet

COMMISSIONING

Equality impact assessment: World class commissioning assurance framework, World class commissioning of primary medical care guidance (21st November 2008)
This report provides an in-depth assessment of the impact of the World class commissioning assurance framework and the related World class commissioning of primary medical care, on the six key equality dimensions of race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.
Report

The role of the Primary Care Trust board in world class commissioning (18th November 2008)
This document forms part of the wider WCC board development programme. It provides an update on the role and purpose of the PCT board in the context of world class commissioning.
Document

World Class Commissioning Programme – October Update (14th November 2008)
Monthly progress report on the world class commissioning programme.
Update

Putting prevention first – vascular checks: risk assessment and management – next steps guidance for primary care trusts (13th November 2008)
Putting prevention first, published in April 2008, outlined proposals for a system of vascular checks to be carried out in primary care. This document has been developed in consultation with PCT commissioners, those who will be carrying out the checks and the Learning Network, which has been set up to share learning across the NHS on vascular risk assessment and management. It draws on some real life case studies and examples of how PCTs have already implemented vascular checks in their areas. It provides practical tools to support commissioning and links to existing resources and guidance.
Guidance

Person-centred commissioning – now (28th October 2008)
This document explores some examples of what is working well nationally in learning disability commissioning - and how that learning could be used to develop a person-centred commissioning pathway for the future. No one area claims to have everything right, but each example shows a part of the pathway being implemented successfully, and within a person-centred approach. Ajibola Awogboro, Adults Commissioning and Business Service Manager at Greenwich Council, described the document as: "Useful for commissioners, especially to focus them on developing action plans for the way forward."
Document

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Vascular checks economic modelling technical consultation – response summary (13th November 2008)
This document provides a summary of the main points raised by the respondents during the technical consultation and details how we are taking these points further.
Summary of responses
Technical consultation document: Economic modelling for vascular checks

The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) draft Regulations 2008: consultation report (14th November 2008)
A summary response to the public consultation on the draft regulations setting out proposals for the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (Appointment, Procedure etc.) Regulations 2008.
Consultation report
Original consultation

CONSULTATIONS

Chemotherapy Services in England, ensuring quality and safety: a report from the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group, draft for consultation (12th November 2008)
The aim of this report is to bring about a step change in the quality and safety of chemotherapy services for adult patients with either solid cancers or haematological malignancies. The report sets out a framework for planning and monitoring services based on a care pathway model and the actions that need to be taken by commissioners and providers to ensure high quality care. Closing date for comments is 4th February 2009.
Covering letter
Consultation document

DEATH CERTIFICATES

Improving the process of death certification in England and Wales: overview of programme (20th November 2008)
This document provides a general overview of the Death Certification Programme and an update on current progress.
Document

DIET/NUTRITION

InformAll Database (November 2008)
The InformAll Database is a searchable database with information on allergenic foods which has been developed with funding from the European Union.
Database

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

Putting prevention first: vascular checks risk assessment and management – impact assessment (14th November 2008)
Vascular diseases include heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. A significant amount of vascular morbidity and mortality could be prevented through primary prevention and early detection of these diseases. A universal risk assessment and management programme could significantly increase uptake of the preventative interventions, and offers a real opportunity to reduce health inequalities.
Impact Assessment

National COPD Audit 2008 (19th November 2008)
The Royal College of Physicians has reported that NHS services for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have improved over the past five years but the quality of services offered varies considerably and often falls short of national quality standards. This is the main finding of the latest national audit into the acute care of COPD. The disease is the fifth biggest killer in the UK, the second most common cause of emergency admission to hospital and one of the most costly in-patient conditions treated within the NHS. The National COPD Audit 2008 measures what progress has been made into the care of the condition since the last audit in 2003.
Report
Other Information

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS

Anti-Bullying Guidance for Schools (17th November 2008)
The National Healthy Schools Programme and 11 Million launched this new guidance to coincide with National Anti-Bullying week. The guidance takes a honest look at the problem of bullying and how it affects children and young people, drawing together key evidence on anti-bullying including research by academics at the University of York conducted for the Children’s Commissioner for England.
Guidance

e-Bug (18th November 2008)
As part of a new campaign to control the spread of antibiotic resistant infections, children are to be taught in schools about prudent antibiotic use and the importance of good hygiene. "e-Bug", a European Commission (DG-SANCO) sponsored project, developed by the Health Protection Agency and European partners, is an educational resource that will be available for schools in Europe, including the UK, to use from next year (2009/2010).
Website

EQUALITY

Equality impact assessment: summary tool and guidance for policy makers (18th November 2008)
Equality impact assessment (EqIA) is the process by which the DH seeks to meet its legal requirements in conjunction with the DH Single Equality Scheme (SES) and to narrow the health inequalities that exist in England between people from different ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, men and women (including transgendered people), people with different sexual orientations, people in different age groups, and people with different religions or beliefs. Policymakers must screen all new (and eventually, all existing) policies for their impact on people from each of these groups.
Summary Tool

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

Vital Signs Monitoring Return (VSMR) – Commissioner based (21st November 2008)
This VSMR – commissioner based, associated with stroke has been published by the Department of Health’s stroke website.
Document

Best practice guidance for Your guide to local health services (20th November 2008)
This best practice guidance presents items for inclusion in Your guide to local health services to help primary care trusts ensure that patients receive local information about primary care trust services.
Letter
Guidance

Social Enterprise – Making a difference: a guide to the Right to Request (20th November 2008)
The ‘right to request’ is part of a bigger vision for the future of the NHS as set out in High Quality Care For All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report published in June 2008. This recognised that we will only succeed in placing quality at the heart of everything we do if frontline NHS staff are given the freedom to use their talents to find innovative ways to improve quality of care for patients. It identifies the need to enable NHS services everywhere to best respond to the needs of their local communities and the need for a new accountability. This guide aims to support NHS staff who are thinking of taking up the ‘right to request’ and setting up a social enterprise to deliver healthcare services to NHS patients, free at the point of delivery.
Guide
Summary leaflet
Workshops

HEALTH

Improving health and work: changing lives (25th November 2008)
Improving health and work: changing lives, published on 25 November 2008, is the Government’s response to Working for a Healthier Tomorrow (published March 2008), Dame Carol Black’s Review of the health of Britain’s working age population. The initiatives set out in this Response are designed to contribute to the health and well-being of the working-age population, their families and communities, and to benefit Britain’s economic performance overall.
Report
Working for a Healthier Tomorrow

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Feedback events on the new single complaints system (25th November 2008)
From 1 April 2009 a single complaints system will cover all of health and adult social care services in England. A number of events will be taking place in December 2008 to allow NHS and adult social care complaint /customer service managers, patient advice and liaison service staff and the public to comment and offer their views on the proposed new complaints arrangements.
Information

HEALTH PROMOTION

Catch it, Bin it, Kill it – respiratory and hand hygiene campaign (24th November 2008)
The second phase of this communications campaign began on 24 November 2008 and runs until early 2009. It aims to encourage the public to practise correct respiratory and hand hygiene when coughing and sneezing, to prevent the spread of germs particularly during the cold and flu season. The 2008/2009 campaign particularly targets mothers with children under 11 years of age, as influencers within the family.
Campaign

HEALTHCARE COMMISSION

How well are acute trusts following the hygiene code? (24th November 2008)
This publication describes the Healthcare Commissions findings from 51 inspections of acute NHS trusts (about 30% of the acute sector) to assess their performance regarding cleanliness and infection control. The Healthcare Commission praised NHS trusts for showing increasing commitment to reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, the NHS must maintain the pressure, because the spotchecks revealed gaps in many trusts’ systems.
Publication

HIV AND AIDS

Record numbers living with HIV in the UK (25th November 2008)
An estimated 77,400 people were living with HIV in the UK in 2007 with more than a quarter (28%) unaware of their infection, according to figures released today by the Health Protection Agency.
HIV in the United Kingdom 2008 report
SlideSet
Sexually Transmitted Infections and Men who have Sex with Men in the UK 2008 Report
SlideSet
Press Release

HOMELESSNESS

No One Left Out – Communities ending rough sleeping (18th November 2008)
This is a 15-point action plan, which has been developed with leading rough sleeping charities, to prevent rough sleeping, and to support those already there to rebuild their lives away from the streets. The plan calls on communities to get more involved in supporting those in their area at risk of rough sleeping.
Action Plan

Rough Sleeping 10 Years On: From the streets to independent living and opportunity: Analysis of responses to discussion paper (18th November 2008)
In April 2008 Communities and Local Government published the discussion paper Rough Sleeping 10 years on: From the streets to independent living and opportunity, to inform development of an updated government strategy. These documents report on the responses we received to this discussion paper. The quality of the responses to the discussion paper was very high, and some clear themes emerged.
Executive Summary
Ultra Executive Summary

HOUSING

Costs and outcomes of an extra-care housing scheme in Bradford (17th November 2008)
The aim of this study was to assess as accurately as possible the comparative cost before and after residents moved to a new extra-care housing scheme in Bradford. The importance of extra-care housing in the current policy context is illustrated by the level of financial investment. Each year since 2003 the Department of Health has provided capital funding to support its development. However, there is a lack of evidence about the potential, the costs and benefits, and consequently the cost-effectiveness, of extra-care housing.
Report
Findings

Housing choices and issues for young people in the UK (18th November 2008)
This review has been written ahead of the forthcoming Housing Reform Green Paper, which will include a focus on the improved provision of housing services and options for young people. The review provides a context for considering the changing nature of young people’s housing transitions in recent decades and highlights some of the most pressing housing-related issues facing young people in the UK today.
Report
Findings

English House Condition Survey – 2006 Annual Report (25th November 2008)
The English House Condition Survey (EHCS) is a long-standing survey reporting every five years since 1971 to 2001 and annually since 2003. It monitors the condition and energy performance of housing in England. The report was based on a random achieved sample of 16,670 dwellings comprising a detailed non-intrusive physical inspection of the dwelling (including an assessment to its environment), and an interview with the householder.
Report

LEARNING DISABILITIES

Transfer of Learning Disability Social Care Funding and Commissioning from the NHS to Local Government (19th November 2008)
In August 2008, a letter was sent to all PCTs and Local Authorities seeking the transfer of commissioning responsibility from PCTs to Local Authorities with respect to non- health care related expenditure for people with Learning Difficulties. This letter gives an update and specifically advises PCTs and Local Councils as to what the DH are looking for from the December 1st return.
Letter

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Healthy Communities Ipsos MORI survey results (20th November 2008)
In the summer of 2008, the Healthy Communities Programme commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct a survey of local authority chief executives and senior staff to assess how councils are responding to the health improvement agenda. A total of 400 interviews were conducted with staff in 265 authorities.
Survey

Improving Public Access to Toilets: Guidance on Community Toilet Schemes and SatLav (19th November 2008)
This guidance is for local authorities and partnerships wishing to set up a community toilet scheme. It provides an overview of the community toilet scheme developed by the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames and a case study of the SatLav text messaging service operated by Westminster City Council, which makes use of mobile phone technology to help the public locate their closest accessible toilets.
Guidance

MEDICAL CAREERS

Implementing the Tooke Report: Department of Health update (14th November 2008)
Professor Sir John Tooke led an inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) that culminated in a final report, Aspiring to Excellence, published in January 2008. The Secretary of State for Health gave his formal response to that report the following month. Subsequent to those publications, the Parliamentary Health Select Committee (HSC) published the findings of their own inquiry into MMC in May. One of the HSC recommendations was that the Department of Health should publish an updated response to the 47 recommendations in Sir John’s original report. The Department agreed to that HSC recommendation and our updated response is published here.
Document

MENTAL HEALTH

Children and young people in mind: the final report of the National CAMHS Review (18th November 2008)
The independent CAMHS Review was commissioned to look at how mainstream and universal settings are meeting the educational, care and support of children and young people at risk of and experiencing emerging emotional, behavioural, psychological and mental health problems. The Review has looked at how CAMHS are meeting the needs of some of the most vulnerable children, with complex and challenging needs to ensure that they are delivered in a more integrated way.
Report

Targeted Mental Health in Schools Project (November 2008)
This guide supports the strategic integration of all agencies involved in the delivery of child and adolescent mental health services (including schools) so that they can work together to deliver flexible, responsive and effective early intervention mental health services. It is for everyone involved in deciding which services to deliver in their Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) pathfinder project, including headteachers, commissioners in the local authority and primary care trust (PCT) and TaMHS project managers.
Guide

ORGAN DONATION

The potential impact of an opt out system for organ donation in the UK: an independent report from the Organ Donation Taskforce (17th November 2008)
This independent report from the Organ Donation Taskforce about the potential impact of changing to an opt out system of consent provides an in-depth examination of this complex question. The Taskforce has had discussions and engagement with academics, health professionals, members of the public, organ recipients, families of donors and faith leaders and the report reflects the wide range of views heard.
Report
Supporting information

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Help build a better health and social care service: Local Involvement Networks (LINks) explained (20th November 2008)
Local Involvement Networks (LINks) have been introduced to help strengthen the system that enables communities to influence local health and care services. This document explains more about LINks and how the public can make their voice heard by getting involved. It supersedes previous versions of “LINks explained”.
Document

Carbon monoxide: Are you at risk? (13th November 2008)
Accidental exposure to carbon monoxide kills more than 50 people each year in England and Wales. It is a poisonous gas that you can’t see, taste or smell and is released when a carbon-containing fuel – such as gas, oil, coal, coke, petrol or wood – doesn’t burn fully because there is not enough air available. Incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated room or water heaters, fires or cookers, are the main sources.
Leaflet

Sure Start: ‘Tis the season to be careful (20th November 2008)
This leaflet for parents, produced jointly by the DCSF and the Child Accident Prevention Trust, highlights the potential dangers to children in the home over the Christmas period.
Leaflet

PHARMACY

Agreement reached on 2009 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) Negotiations (19th November 2008)
Letter confirming that the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the Department of Health have reached agreement on the new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) from 1 January 2009.
Letter

POVERTY

London Children: Our Future Capital (20th November 2008)
This document, London's Children: Our Future Capital, contains details of a new joint target for tackling child poverty in London and identifies the priorities and actions that will accelerate progress towards this goal. The document is an interesting and informative read for any organisation that works with children and families, including local authorities, health services, employment services, housing providers, children's centres and childcare providers. It explains what each of these partners can do to play their role in ending child poverty, and why it is essential that we all work together to achieve more for London's children.
Document

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

Directions to Primary Care Trusts concerning the exercise of Dental Public Health functions 2008 (20th November 2008)
Directions have been made on implementation of The Functions of Primary Care Trusts (Dental Public Health) (England) Regulations 2006. The functions are to provide oral health programmes and undertake oral health surveys. PCTs will need to have regard to Delivering Better Oral Health An evidence-based toolkit for prevention published in September 2007 in developing oral health programmes and the guidance issued in January 2007 Dental screening (Inspection) in schools and consent for undertaking screening and epidemiological surveys in undertaking oral health surveys. PCTs will also need to make appropriate staff available in exercising the function to undertake oral health surveys in accordance with the national programme and protocols.
Directions
Better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention (published September 2007)
Dental screening (Inspection) in schools and consent for undertaking screening and epidemiology surveys (published January 2007)

PRISONS/PRISON HEALTH

A review of the use of offending behaviour programmes for people with mental health problems (12th November 2008)
Offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) aim to change the way offenders think in order to change their offending behaviour. This review finds that many programmes are poorly adapted to the needs of people with mental health problems and that they fail to address the most common causes of offending, such as lack of a home and lack of a job. The review calls for programmes to be made more accessible to prisoners with mental health problems and relevant to people's lives.
Review

PUBLIC HEALTH

Health Impacts of Education: a review (4th November 2008)
This review, from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, is the fourth in a series and illustrates how education impacts on health. It shows how education influences health through a range of interconnecting pathways and identifies the ways in which social, economic and cultural differences within the population impact on the experience of and outcomes from education with subsequent implications for health.
Review

SEXUAL HEALTH

Sexually transmitted infections in black African and black Caribbean communities in the UK: 2008 report (4th November 2008)
Figures released in this report by the Health Protection Agency show that almost half (42%) of all African individuals diagnosed with HIV in the UK are missing out on the benefits that come from early diagnosis including improved life expectancy, because they are diagnosed late – that is, after a point at which treatment should have started.
Report
Presentation

SMOKING/TOBACCO

Population tobacco control interventions and their effects on social inequalities in smoking (November 2008)
Reducing social inequalities in smoking and its health consequences is a public-health and political priority: the Department of Health has a specific target to reduce the prevalence of smoking in „manual groups from 32% to 26% by 2015. This project sought to pilot, develop and demonstrate a method which could synthesise the evidence on effective interventions to reduce smoking-related health inequalities, but would also be applicable to interventions to reduce inequalities in other areas of health.
Report

STATISTICS

Patient experience PSA scores updated to include results from the 2007 and early 2008 patient surveys (24th November 2008)
Full release
Information on the revisions to 2006/07 figures
Further Information on the methodology

Diagnostics waiting times and activity data: month ending 30 September 2008 (12th November 2008)
Commissioner based
Provider based

Mortality target monitoring (life expectancy and all-age all-cause mortality, overall and inequalities) – update to include data for 2007 (13th November 2008)

Accident & Emergency attendances: total time spent in A&E from arrival to admission, discharge or transfer; and waiting for emergency admission through A&E, quarter ending Spetember 2008 (14th November 2008)
A&E Attendances
Admissions from A&E
Total Time in A&E

Referral to treatment statistics (admitted patients, non-admitted patients and incomplete RTT times), September 2008 (20th November 2008)

21st Century Mortality – Deaths (24th November 2008)

21st Century Mortality – Population 2001-2007 (24th November 2008)

General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales – year ending 31st March 2008 (20th November 2008)

General Ophthalmic Services: Workforce Statistics for England and Wales – year ending 31st December 2007 (20th November 2008)

Population and Migration Statistics (19th November 2008)

Total International Migration: 2007 (19th November 2008)

Conception Statistics 2006 (13th November 2008)

Labour market statistics – November 2008 (12th November 2008)

Labour market statistics – November 2008: North West (12th November 2008)

General Pharmaceutical Services in England and Wales 1998-99 to 2007-08 (25th November 2008)

WAITING TIMES

GP referral for clinical genetics services (13th November 2008)
Letter on possible confusion about the application of the Department's guidance on first out-patient appointments following GP referral to a consultant for clinical genetics services.
Letter

ALCOHOL

Review of alcohol-related harm in Wigan and Leigh, July 2008 (20th October 2008)
In order to fully understand the impacts of alcohol on the local area, Wigan Drug and Alcohol Action Team commissioned the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University to conduct a review examining areas such as alcohol-related ill health and alcohol-related crime.
Review

Reducing Alcohol Harm: health services in England for alcohol misuse (29th October 2008)
This report evaluates work by the Department of Health and the National Health Service to address the health effects of alcohol misuse. Alcohol-related ill-health is an increasing burden for the National Health Service. Alcohol misuse costs the health service in the order of £2.7 billion a year, but efforts to address it locally are not in general well-planned, the National Audit Office reported today. The Department of Health is however raising the profile of alcohol misuse by providing information and guidance to underpin local action, centred on encouraging PCTs to gauge their performance against the rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions.
Report
Summary

ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Self-referral pilots to musculoskeletal physiotherapy and the implications for improving access to other AHP services (21st October 2008)
Report of work to explore the impact of opening up access to musculoskeletal physiotherapy through self-referral where it had not previously been part of usual service provision. The report also considers the implications for access to other allied health professions services. Findings highlight benefits to patients and services.
Report

Framing the contribution of allied health professionals: delivering high-quality healthcare (21st October 2008)
Document to frame the Next Stage Review for allied health professionals and describe the improved AHP service offer to patients and the public.
Document

Occupational therapy in adult social care in England: sustaining a high quality workforce for the future (21st October 2008)
This report is the result of partnership working between the Department of Health and the College of Occupational Therapists (COT). It was commissioned in 2007 in light of the Options for Excellence workforce review. It reflects the recognised need to build an occupational therapy social care workforce for the future by improving opportunities for student placements and supporting newly qualified staff. The report is a useful tool to promote dialogue locally. It proposes next steps to enable innovative solutions that support service transformation and deliver sustainable outcomes for service users and carers.
Report

ANNUAL REPORTS

National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan - Annual Progress Report 2007/08 (31st October 2008)
Domestic Violence accounts for 16% of all reported violent incidents. It has more repeat victims than any other crime, with repeat victimisation accounting for 73% of all incidents of domestic violence with over one in four (27%) victims having been victimised three or more times.
Report

National Specialised Commissioning Group (NSCG) - Annual Report 2007/08 (October 2008)
This is the first annual report of the NSCG. The report highlights each of the 10 Specialised Commissioning Groups (SCG’s) progress during 2007/08.
Report

The State of the Drug Problem in Europe - Annual Report 2008 (7th November 2008)
This is the thirteenth annual report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
Report

Tuberculosis in the UK: Annual report on tuberculosis surveillance in the UK 2008 (30th October 2008)
Tuberculosis (TB) figures released today by the Health Protection Agency show that the upward climb in numbers we have seen in recent years is beginning to stabilise but scientists are warning the figures are still too high. In total there were 8,417 cases of TB reported in the UK in 2007, this compares with 8,495 in 2006. This is a small decline of 0.9%. In 2000 there were 6,726 cases in the UK.
Annual Report

AUDIT

Code of Audit Practice 2008 - for local government bodies (20th October 2008)
The Code determines the nature, level and scope of local audit work and has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders. The Code will enable the Audit Commission to provide the assurances on proper stewardship and value for money in the use of resources which underpin the delivery of high quality services to the public. This is an amended edition, which replaces the Code first published in March 2005 by the Audit Commission for local authorities and the National Health Service in England.
Document

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTER

FSA News No. 81, October 2008 (17th October 2008)

ChaMPs News - Autumn 2008 (16th October 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 42 (17th October 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 43 (24th October 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 44 (31st October 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 45 (7th November 2008)

CSIP Telecare eNewsletter - October 2008 (3rd November 2008)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin (10th November 2008)

CANCER

ARTICLE - Variation in incidence of breast, lung and cervical cancer and malignant melanoma of skin by socioeconomic group in England (October 2008)
Cancer incidence varies by socioeconomic group and these variations have been linked with environmental and lifestyle factors, differences in access to health care and health seeking behaviour. Socioeconomic variations in cancer incidence by region and age are less clearly understood but they are crucial for targeting prevention measures and health care commissioning. National comparison of socioeconomic variations in cancer incidence by region and age can provide an unbiased basis for public health prevention and health commissioning. Decreasing inequalities in incidence requires the integration of information on risk factors, incidence and projected incidence but targeted public health interventions could help to reduce regional inequalities in incidence and reduce the future cancer burden.
Article

New measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2008 (7th November 2008)
This revised Manual of Cancer Services is an integral part of the NHS Cancer Plan, Cancer Reform Strategy and modernisation of cancer services. It will support quality assurance of cancer services and enable quality improvement.
Documents

CARE/CARERS

Integrated Care Pilot Programme - prospectus launch (16th October 2008)
The Primary and Community Care Strategy announced that the Department would pilot new clinically-led models of integrated care. This prospectus invites innovative applications from clinicians, care professionals and managers. It sets out the scope of the programme and the process for selection.
Covering Letter
Prospectus
Evidence Base
Application form

Improving care in residential care homes: a literature review (29th October 2008)
This review examines the research evidence available to support improved care for older people in residential homes.
Review

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Drug Education: An entitlement for all - a report to the Government by the Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education (October 2008)
Young people who drink alcohol or take illegal drugs can inflict serious damage on their own health and well-being, and wider negative impacts on their families and local community. Despite improvements in the past ten years, drug and alcohol education in schools, colleges and non-formal settings could be better. Following the analysis of the evidence, and using the knowledge and expertise of the Advisory Group, a series of recommendations have been put before the Government to act upon.
Report

Government Response to the Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education (October 2008)
This publication is the Government’s response to the recommendations made in the Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education’s report. It lists the actions that the Government intends to carry out with regards to the Advisory Groups recommendations.
Publication

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Are we there yet? Improving governance and resource management in children’s trusts (29th October 2008)
This report examined the progress local councils and their partners are making in developing children's trusts. The report concludes that the 'children's trusts' created by the government after the death of Victoria Climbie have been confused and confusing. Five years after the green paper Every Child Matters and eight years after the child's death, 'there is little evidence of better outcomes for children and young people' resulting from the requirement that local areas in England set up arrangements to coordinate children's services. A third of directors of children's services say that their partner organisations are 'unclear' of the purpose of children's trusts, and the uncertainty is hampering their efforts to deliver better services. However the study did find that progress has been made in bringing professionals together, but sometimes by navigating around the 'centrally-directed approach'. Local agreements worked better than external direction.
Report
Summary
Self-assessment tool

Information sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers (October 2008)
This guidance is for practitioners who provide services to children, young people and adults, who have to make decisions about sharing personal information on a case-by-case basis. It is also for managers and advisors who support these practitioners in their decision making and for others with responsibility for information governance.
Guidance

COMMISSIONING

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: Commissioning weight management services for children and young people (7th November 2008)
This guide has been developed to support local areas in commissioning weight management services for children and young people. It is designed to reflect the move towards world class commissioning and joint commissioning of children’s services, and complements the existing suite of Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives publications. The guide includes an introduction setting out the wider context and additional plans to provide support to commissioners in this area, and 15 separate tools covering key steps in the commissioning process.
Guide

Commissioning IAPT for the whole community: improving access to psychological therapies (6th November 2008)
This document is intended to assist commissioners (including practice-based commissioners), to deliver Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services that are effective and appropriate for the whole community, using innovative ways of meeting the needs of local people. It is drawn from the work of the IAPT special interest groups (SIGs).
Document

World Classing Commissioning and Audit Commission Auditors’ Local Evaluation (Use of Resources from 08/09) (5th November 2008)
This letter from Mark Britnel, Director General of Commissioning & System Management, and Andy McKeon, Managing Director of Health, Audit Commission, outlines how the Audit Commission Auditors’ Local Evaluation (Use of Resources from 08/09) will provide a basis to help PCTs develop under the World Class Commissioning assurance system.
Document

Mental Health Act 2007 - briefing regarding children and young people (October 2008)
As of November 3 2008, PCT and children’s trust commissioners will need to be aware that they have a new legal duty under sections 39 and 140 of the Mental Health Act 2007 to inform the courts and local authorities where beds and facilities for under 18 year olds have been (or could be) commissioned. Children under the age of 16 should not be placed on adult wards at all by December 1.
Briefing

Primary and Community Care Strategy Presentation (22nd October 2008)
The Department of Health set out its vision of primary care in a document published in July. NHS Next Stage Review, Our Vision for Primary and Community Care lays down a clear challenge to healthcare professionals and commissioners to deliver high-quality care at the point of need consistently and fairly. The document identifies development goals for the next 10 years, defining essential standards and describing a framework for delivering innovation and excellence. NHS PCC has developed a presentation that PCT commissioners can use to communicate the aims and objectives of the strategy locally. The presentation should assist PCTs in setting their own strategic priorities for primary and community care in line with national policy.
Presentation

Accessing and using NICE commissioning tools - new tutorials (October 2008)
In response to feedback from users of the commissioning tools, NICE has published three tutorials to help commissioner understand how to use them, and how to get the best out of their use.
Tutorials

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

General Medical Council (Constitution) Order 2008 constitution report: October 2008: response to consultation (16th October 2008)
A summary response to the public constitution on the draft regulations; setting out proposals for the GMC (Constitution) Order 2008.
Response
Original consultation

Nursing and Midwifery Council (Constitution) Order 2008: consultation report (21st October 2008)
A summary response to the public consultation on the draft regulations setting out proposals for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (Constitution) Order 2008.
Response
Original consultation

General Chiropractic Council (Constitution) Order 2008: consultation report, October 2008 (30th October 2008)
Summary of response to the public consultation on the draft General Chiropractic Council (Constitution) Order 2008.
Response
Impact assessment
Original consultation

The Medical Profession (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 consultation summary (11th November 2008)
This document sets out the outcome of a consultation to a number of changes to the 1983 Act, and to the 2003 Order. All amendments relate to the General Medical Council. Some also relate to the functions of the Privy Council and the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board.
Response
Impact Assessment

CONSULTATIONS

Manual for Cancer Services 2008: Draft Children’s Measures - Consultation Version (3rd November 2008)
The purpose of this consultation is to make the new children's cancer measures clear and comprehensive to be added to the new revised Manual for Cancer Services 2008 (due to be published later this year) An Impact Assessment is not required for this document. However the National Institute for Clinical Health and Excellence has undertaken a full economic analysis on the national guidance on which this document is based. Closing date for comments is 30th January 2009.
Letter
Consultation Version
Consultation proforma
Equality Impact Assessment for the Ongoing Programme of Updates to the Manual

Safeguarding adults: a consultation on the review of the ‘No Secrets’ guidance (16th October 2008)
The Department of Health, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice have launched the national consultation on the review of the No Secrets guidance. Minister for Care Services, Phil Hope MP said: 'This consultation paper is about learning. It is about how we as a society learn to empower people - both the public and the professionals - to identify risk and manage risk. It is about how we empower people to say no to abusive situations and criminal behaviour. It is about locating safeguarding in the wider agenda of choice and control. It is about recognising safeguarding as everyone's business. It is about identifying the tools we need for better safeguarding.' Closing date for comments 31st January 2009.
Consultation document
Easy-read version
Easy-read answer booklet
Impact assessment
Letter to all Directors of Social Services

Developing the Quality and Outcomes Framework: Proposals for a new, independent process (30th October 2008)
This is a public consultation document setting out proposals for how a new independent and transparent process for recommending Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) indicators led by NICE should work. The DH will publish the responses and publish a report on how the consultation process influenced the development of policy. Closing date for comments is 2nd February 2009.
Consultation document
Impact Assessment

End of Life Care Strategy: Quality Markers Consultation (7th November 2008)
The Department of Health has launched a consultation on Quality Markers for End of Life Care, as promised in the End of Life Care Strategy published in July. This document has been developed with help from the SHA Pathway Chairs for the NHS Next Stage Review, who identified the need for a national approach in order to raise the quality of care for people at the end of life. The document is aimed at commissioners, performance managers and providers of end of life care services, from the NHS, voluntary and independent sectors. Closing date for comments is 6th February 2009.
Consultation
Equality monitoring form

Draft guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care (4th November 2008)
This draft guidance for consultation is in response to Prof Mike Richards’ review into the consequences of additional private drugs for NHS care. Closing date for comments is 27th January 2008.
Consultation
Equality Impact Assessment

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Department of Health resource accounts 2007-08 (17th October 2008)
These accounts consolidate the financial information within the Departmental Accounting Boundary which includes the parent Department of Health (DH), Purchasing and Supply Agency, and other NHS bodies funded directly by the Department. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, NHS Trusts and the Department’s Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies are excluded from the consolidation. NHS Trusts and those Special Health Authorities that receive their funding from 'trading' activities, e.g. NHS Blood and Transplant and NHS Logistics Authority, produce income and expenditure accounts within Resource Budgeting but are outside of the Resource Accounting Boundary.
Document

DIET/NUTRITION

Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board mid-year progress report, October 2008 (11th October 2008)
The Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board mid-year report is an independent report written by the Chair of the Board, in conjunction with key stakeholders. It summarises the Board's achievements in the first half of the year and identifies areas where further work needs to be done to implement the Nutrition Action Plan fully and meet the overall goal of improving nutritional care.
Report

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

PL/CMO/2008/7, PL/CNO/2008/7 Improving the detection and diagnosis of hepatitis C in primary care (27th October 2008)
Letter urging improvement in the detection and diagnosis of hepatitis C in primary care, and introducing Hepatitis C: Quick reference guide for primary care.
Letter
Hepatitis C: Quick reference guide for primary care (originally published 30th March 2007)

Migration and Infectious Diseases in the North West (10th November 2008)
This is the full version of short section written for a report on Health and Migration in the North West of England. The key diseases of tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis B, malaria and typhoid fever are identified and discussed. The current regional situation is described and placed within the national and global context.
Report

DRUGS

Shooting up. Infections among injecting drug users in the United Kingdom 2007. An update: October 2008 (27th October 2008)
One-third of injecting drug users have reported having an abscess, sore or open wound at sites of injection - bacterial infections that are thought to cost the NHS around £47million a year. Recent changes in drug taking such as the increase in people taking crack cocaine, has helped fuel an increase in bacterial infections among drug users.
Report

National and regional estimates of the prevalence of opiate use and/or crack cocaine use 2006/07: a summary of key findings (November 2008)
This report summarises the results of the third and final phase of a three-year study to estimate the prevalence of problematic use of opiates and/or crack cocaine nationally (England only), regionally and locally.
Report

Good Practice in Harm Reduction (October 2008)
This report follows publication of the results of the 2006/07 service reviews on harm reduction carried out by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) and the Healthcare Commission. The aim of this report is to highlight good practice in harm reduction, based on interviews with local drug partnerships that performed well in the reviews to identify good practice in interventions to reduce drug-related harm related to blood-borne virus and overdose.
Report

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS

Review of Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) in schools and the Government Response (23rd October 2008)
This report represents the views of all members of the external steering group that was established to take forward the commitment in the Children’s Plan to: ‘Review the delivery of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in schools. It summarises how the review was organised, what evidence they considered to inform their decisions, the key challenges that they identified and the recommendations that they are making to improve SRE delivery.
Review
Government Response

FINANCE

Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) (No 5) Directions 2008 (24th October 2008)
These Directions were signed on 22 October 2008 and come into force either on 1 April 2008 or 23 October 2008 (see direction 1). The amendments primarily relate to changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework agreed in discussions earlier this year between NHS Employers and the GPC. There are, in addition, a handful of minor amendments.
Directions
Explanatory note

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

Paying the Patient: does it work? A review of patient-targeted incentives (14th October 2008)
This report, from the Health Foundation, summarises available evidence on the effectiveness of patient incentives in improving quality of healthcare.
Report

FOUNDATION TRUSTS

NHS Foundation Trusts - Review and Consolidated Accounts 2007-08 (30th October 2008)
Monitor’s review of foundation trusts’ performance for the year 2007-08 supports the case that the foundation model and its regulatory regime is working, delivering robust organisations able to meet the requirements of their commissioners. In general, national healthcare targets are being met, membership is increasing and NHS foundation trusts have demonstrated that they can maintain a strong financial base, deliver efficiencies and build surpluses to invest in improved patient care. In the report it is clear that variation does exist within the sector; Monitor has intervened at five trusts during the year to remedy unacceptably poor MRSA rates, and has intervened formally at one trust in response to concerns about financial governance. However, the Annual Health Check ratings produced in October 2008 by the Healthcare Commission show a very positive picture – of the 42 trusts rated ‘excellent’ for both quality of services and use of resources, 38 were foundation trusts.
Report

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

Treatment of heart attack national guidance: final report of the National Infarct Angioplasty Project (NIAP) (20th October 2008)
NIAP is a feasibility study looking at how far primary angioplasty can be rolled out as the main treatment for heart attack in place of clot-busting drugs. This is the final report concluding that it is feasible to roll out primary angioplasty for the majority of England within acceptable treatment times and is being published to encourage best practice.
Final report
Impact assessment
Equality impact assessment

Acting for change: transforming pathology services through action learning (7th November 2008)
Building on the earlier success of the Pathology Action Learning Programme, in 2007/08 DH supported around 30 learning sets. They used action learning techniques to tackle issues such as point of care testing, workforce re-profiling, phlebotomy, and service reconfiguration. This report makes available the learning from those projects, together with an introduction to action learning.
Report

NHS Guidance on planning for disruption to road fuel supply: strategic national guidance for NHS organisations (5th November 2008)
This document gives interim guidance to National Health Service organisations to assist with their business continuity management planning in response to a reduction of the normal availability of road fuel, from a minor disruption through to the activation of the National Emergency Plan – Fuel (NEP-F) 2008. This guidance follows on from the NHS Resilience and Business Continuity Management Guidance 2008 and should be used in conjunction with the NHS Emergency Planning Guidance 2005. It is subordinate to the Department for Energy and Climate Change’s NEP-F, which is currently undergoing further review.
Document

HEALTHCARE

Regulation of Health Care Provision in England (24th October 2008)
This briefing examines the recent history of the quality and safety, financial and economic regulation of health care providers in England. It describes the new regulatory machinery that is being introduced and considers how the relationship between these different regulatory systems may develop in the future.
Briefing

HEALTH PROMOTION

European Antibiotic Awareness Day and DH Antibiotics! Do you need them? Campaign (17th October 2008)
Letter announcing the Awareness Day and campaign.
Letter
Order form for materials
Antibiotic Campaign 2008-09
European Antibiotic Awareness Day

HEALTH PROTECTION

Clostridium difficile infections fall significantly (23rd October 2008)
Latest C. difficile figures for England show that between April and June 2008 there were 8,683 cases recorded in patients aged 65 years and over. This represents a fall of 18% in this age group from the previous quarter, January to March 2008, when the total was 10,608.
Statistics

HOMELESSNESS

An exploration of the issues experienced by, and needs of, young people who are homeless or vulnerably housed in Liverpool (14th October 2008)
This study explored the issues, and needs, of young people (aged under 25 years old) who were homeless, vulnerably housed or exiting care in Liverpool. Issues relating to accommodation, drug and alcohol use, the influence of peers and support from local organisations are examined, and recommendations for responses to the key findings are included.
Report

Evaluation of the Rapid Access Homeless Outreach Service (30th October 2008)
The Rapid Access Homeless Outreach Service is a low threshold service commissioned to engage ‘hard to reach’ substance users in treatment, principally aimed at homeless drug and alcohol users. This report evaluated the effectiveness of the open access service at engaging ‘hard to reach’ substance users in treatment, specifically homeless drug and alcohol users.
Report

INFECTION CONTROL

PL/CNO/2008/5: Improving cleanliness and infection control: from deep clean to keep clean - learning from the deep clean programme (28th October 2008)
Professional Letter from Chris Beasley, Chief Nursing Officer, and David Flory, Director General NHS Finance, Performance and Operations announcing the publication of a compendium of good practice examples from the national deep clean initiative and clarifying expectations for deep cleaning in the future.
Document

From deep clean to keep clean: learning from the deep clean programme (28th October 2008)
This compendium is designed to identify areas of good practice arising from the national deep clean initiative and become a basis for sharing learning across organisations.
Document