VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Don't Let Them Con You (1st February 2008)
This leaflet gives guidance for people who might be vulnerable to scams, such as bogus investment opportunities and lottery award letters.
Click here for the Leaflet

STATISTICS

Report of the National Patient Choice Survey, England – September 2007 (4th February 2008)

Health Survey for England: updating of trend tables to include 2006 data (31st January 2008)
Click here for Table commentary
Click here for Adult trend tables
Click here for Children trend tables

Statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet: England, January 2008 (31st January 2008)
Click here for Report
Click here for Tables

Health Survey for England 2006: CVD and risk factors adults, obesity and risk factors children (31st January 2008)
Click here for Summary

Click here for Volume 1 – Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in adults

Click here for Volume 2 – Obesity and other risk factors in children

Click here for Volume 3 – Methodology and documentation

Click here for Volume 3 – Methodology Appendix A – fieldwork documents

Click here for Volume 3 – Methodology Appendix A continued

Click here for Volume 3 – Methodology Appendix A continued

Click here for Volume 3 – Methodology Appendix A continued

Click here for Volume 3 – Methodology Appendix B – measurement protocols

Click here for Volume 3 – Methodology Appendix B continued

Click here for Volume 3 – Methodology Appendix C – glossary

Statistical press notice NHS Inpatient and Outpatient waiting times figures (1st February 2008)

Congenital Anomaly Statistics 2006 (31st January 2008)

Health care output has risen, but productivity fell (29th January 2008)

Suicides – rate in UK men steadies (25th January 2008)

PUBLIC HEALTH

The Good Indicators Guide: Understanding how to use and choose indicators (29th January 2008)
This guide is intended to be a short, practical resource for anyone in any health system who is responsible for using indicators to monitor and improve performance, systems or outcomes.
Click here for the Guide

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

Guidance on Fluoridation of Drinking Water (5th February 2008)
The letter encourages SHAs and PCTs to consider fluoridation to reduce inequalities in oral health. It covers the legislative framework, the requirement for PCTs to assess the oral health needs of their population and good practices on the conduct of consultations on new fluoridation schemes (or changes in existing schemes).
Click here for the Guidance

POVERTY

Mothers' participation in paid work: The role of mini-jobs (4th February 2008)
This report considers the rate of participation in paid work by mothers. The extent to which mothers are employed is a key element in a number of policy areas, including increasing the overall working-age labour force participation rate from 75 per cent to 80 per cent and reducing the proportion of children living in households below the poverty line.
Click here for the Report

PATIENT CHOICE

Patient Choice – King's Fund Briefing (29th January 2008)
Patient choice has been a major theme of the Labour government’s public sector modernisation programme. This briefing looks at the development of reforms to give patients a choice of provider for their planned hospital care.
Click here for the Briefing

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Joint Committee on Human Rights – The Work of the Committee in 2007 and the State of Human Rights in the UK – Sixth Report of Session 2007-08 (1st February 2008)

NURSING

Guidance for new nurse managers in hospices and specialist palliative care units (30th January 2008)
This publication is for nurses who are embarking on a management role in a hospice and palliative care unit environment. It includes detailed information on governance arrangements, policies and procedures, minimum data sets, and useful sections on handling challenging situations and internet resources. It is an ideal tool for nurses to ensure the relevant procedures are put in place for an effective, safe and patient-friendly environment.
Click here for the Guidance

NICE

Immunisation: draft scope consultation (30th January 2008)
NICE was asked by the Department of Health to develop guidance on mechanisms to reduce inequalities in the uptake of immunisation amongst individuals under the age of 19 years (including targeted vaccines). The consultation will take place between Wednesday 30 January and Wednesday 27 February 2008.
Click here for Draft Scope
Click here for Stakeholders comments form

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: consultation (31st January 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: pharmacological and psychological interventions in children, young people and adults is being developed for use in the NHS in England and Wales. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to comment on the provisional recommendations via this website. Closing date for comments is 27th March 2008.
Click here for Full version
Click here for Appendices to full version
Click here for NICE version
Click here for Comments proforma

Psoriasis – adlimumab: appraisal consultation (1st February 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 adalimumab for the treatment of adults with psoriasis and provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted by the manufacturer and the views put forward by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and by the clinical specialist and patient expert representatives nominated for this appraisal by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators. The Committee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of adalimumab for the treatment of adults with psoriasis. Closing date is 21st February 2008.
Click here for Consultation
Click here for other Documents

Ischaemic heart disease – coronary artery stents (review): Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) (1st February 2008)
After considering the feedback from consultation, the Appraisal Committee has prepared a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on Ischaemic heart disease - coronary artery stents (review) and submitted it to the Institute. The FAD has been sent to the formal consultees for this appraisal who have 15 working days to consider whether they wish to appeal against it. Subject to any appeal by consultees, the FAD may be used as the basis for the Institute's guidance on the use of the appraised technology in the NHS in England and Wales.
Click here for the Documents

NHS

Electronic Order Communications in Primary Care (30th January 2008)
The Department of Health is working in partnership with NHS Connecting for Health on a project to develop electronic ordering of pathology tests, and reporting of test results, in primary care. The project will work with two 'early adopter' sites and with primary care system and pathology system suppliers, with the aim of supporting effective national roll-out.
Click here for Document

Operational Plans 2008/09 – 2010/11 (31st January 2008)
The Operating Framework, published the end of last year, introduced a new approach to planning and managing the Department of Health's priorities both nationally and locally – the Vital Signs. The planning guidance published today explains how organisations can use the Vital Signs to develop local operational plans to deliver against national priorities and how to select - or even create - local priorities. The document sets out how performance will be managed against each of the three tiers of the Vital Signs, limiting central performance management to the tier one national priorities and beyond that only to those areas or organisations where performance is weak.
Click here for Guidance
Click here for Poster

NHS reference costs 2006-07 (1st February 2008)
These documents give details on how and on what over £41 billion of NHS expenditure was used in the 2006/07 financial year. The 2006/07 reference costs / reference costs index publication is the richest source of financial data on the NHS ever produced. As in previous years, its main purpose is to provide a basis for comparison within (and outside) the NHS between organisations, and down to the level of individual treatments. The CD version will be available w/c 18th February, please email: dh@prolog.uk.com for a copy.
Click here for Overview and Summary

Click here for Appendix RC1 Reference Costs Index

Click here for Appendix NSRC1 – NHS trust reference cost schedules

Click here for Appendix NSRC2 – Primary care trust reference cost schedules

Click here for Appendix NSRC3 – PMS and pilot reference cost schedules

Click here for Appendix NSRC4 – NHS trust and PCT combined reference cost schedules

Click here for Appendix NSRC5 – Non-NHS providers schedules

LOCAL AUTHORITIES/GOVERNMENT

Top tips for health in Local Authorities (Published December 2007 new to website 31st January 2008)
Local authorities are rediscovering their roots as champions of health and well-being. Whether it be in schools, social care, the environment, transport or leisure services, local authorities and primary care trusts are increasingly working together to meet the health needs of their communities. Top tips for health in local authorities helps public sector partners focus on the actions they can take, drawing together evidence, national policy and practical examples of what works in a simple, easily digestible format. It is a welcome stimulus which everyone should use to improve the health of the North West.
Click here for Full report
Click here for Executive Summary

INFORMATION

Debunking six myths of the Data Protection Act (31st January 2008)
Recent security scandals have raised the profile of the Data Protection Act (DAP) But 10 years after it was passed, many organisations still misunderstand it. This brief article looks at some of the common myths surrounding it.
Click here for Document

HOUSING

Better Buys – Improving housing association procurement practice (1st February 2008)
This report focuses on the role of housing association procurement practice in helping to build a more efficient and effective sector. It aims to support associations and other social landlords to improve their approach to procurement, concentrating on non-development activity.
Click here for Report
Click here for Summary


English House Condition Survey 2006: Headline Report (30th January 2008)
This short report presents headline findings from the 2006 survey and provides an update of progress towards providing better living conditions in England.
Click here for Report

HOMELESSNESS

Policy: briefing – Mortgages and repossessions (January 2008)
This Shelter briefing considers what lies behind the increase in repossessions since 2004, and questions whether adequate systems are in place to deal with new types of risk to which homeowners are exposed. Are lenders, regulators, and the state delivering the level of protection needed? This briefing analyses the key issues and sets out recommendations for a way forward.
Click here for Briefing

HEALTHCARE COMMISSION

Learning from Investigations (4th February 2008)
The Healthcare Commission urged boards of all NHS trusts in England to heed the lessons from serious failings in healthcare services. It highlighted the importance of good leadership, effective management and systematic use of information. The Learning from Investigations report reviewed all investigations undertaken by the Commission under its statutory powers from August 2004 to April 2007.
Click here for the Report

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

Best practice guidance for joint working between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry (1st February 2008)
In February 2007, the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group published its Long-Term Leadership Strategy for medicines. To encourage joint working between the NHS and pharmaceutical industry it recommended that the Department would publish guidance to support this. The purpose of this guidance is to: Encourage NHS organisations and staff to consider joint working as a realistic option for the delivery of high-quality healthcare; and Inform and advise NHS staff of their main responsibilities when entering into consider joint working arrangements with the pharmaceutical industry.
Click here for Guidance

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

Best practice guidance for joint working between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry (1st February 2008)
In February 2007, the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group published its Long-Term Leadership Strategy for medicines. To encourage joint working between the NHS and pharmaceutical industry it recommended that the Department would publish guidance to support this. The purpose of this guidance is to: Encourage NHS organisations and staff to consider joint working as a realistic option for the delivery of high-quality healthcare; and Inform and advise NHS staff of their main responsibilities when entering into consider joint working arrangements with the pharmaceutical industry.
Click here for Guidance

EQUALITIES

"Women Not for Sale" A report on advertising women in small ads in local newspapers (29th January 2008)
This report assesses the scale and nature of the problem of women, and services supplied by women, being advertised in local newspapers. It focuses on women who have been trafficked from other countries.
Click here for the Report

DRUGS

Cannabis supply and young people (31st January 2008)
The supply of drugs to young people is an emotive subject with discussion rarely referring to actual evidence, which is in any case scarce. What evidence exists shows that many young people gain access to drugs through older brothers and sisters, through friends and friends of friends, so-called ‘social supply’ networks. This study interviewed 182 young people aged 11–19, all of whom had used cannabis and/or been involved in cannabis transactions in recent months. This group is unlikely to be representative of young people in general, so the report presents a snapshot view.
Click here for Report
Click here for Findings - previously published 20th December and in Volume 4 Issue 1 of this Bulletin

DEVOLUTION

Devolving Policy, Diverging Values? (25th January 2008)
Devolving Policy, Diverging Values? focuses on the values of the NHS in each of the four nations, and those health care systems within Europe. The report contains contributions from leading health policy analysts. It aims to contribute to the debate about how we define the values of our national health service in the face of both devolution in the UK and the development of the wider European Union.
Click here for Report


Devolution and Health (28th January 2008)
Devolution in the UK offers a rare opportunity to observe the evolution of four health systems, each starting from a common base. Devolution and Health focuses on how the health systems in the UK’s three devolved administrations have evolved, and how their approaches have differed from those in England, since 2003.
Click here for Report

CONSULTATIONS

Good practice guide on paternity testing services (4th February 2008)
This is a 12-week consultation seeking views from stakeholders on a revised edition of the Code of Practice and Guidance on Genetic Paternity Testing Services (March 2001), which is being amended to reflect changes in the law since 2001. Closing date for comments is 5th May 2008.
Click here for Covering Letter
Click here for Consultation


Draft Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2008: Consultation (4th February 2008)
This consultation seeks views on the draft Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2008. Views are also requested on the provisional impact assessment and the questions posed, as well as the accompanying guidance notes. Closing date for comments is 14th March 2008.
Click here for Consultation

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Violence Prevention Alliance Working Group on Youth Violence, Alcohol and Nightlife Fact Sheet 4: Preventing sexual violence in nightlife environment (January 2008)
This fact sheet discusses the major issue of sexual violence in nightlife environments and outlines measures being taken in various countries to prevent sexual violence.
Click here for Fact Sheet

COMMUNITIES

The Government's Response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion (4th February 2008)

This document forms part of the Department of Communities and Local Government response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion's final report, "Our Shared Future". This response sets out how the Government is following up all of the Commission's 57 recommendations.

Click here for Document

Sustainable Communities Act 2007: A guide (1st February 2008)

The Sustainable Communities Act received Royal Assent on 23 October 2007. It aims to promote the sustainability of local communities. This guide describes the Act and what will happen next.

Click here for the Guide

CARE/CARERS

Can you stop the person you care for from being scammed? A guide for carers and care professionals (1st February 2008)

This leaflet gives guidance to carers on protecting the people they care for against scams, such as bogus investment offers and lottery award letters.

Click here for Leaflet

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

The month: issue 5, January 2008 (31st January 2008)

Emergency Care Bulletin, Issue 55, January 2008 (31st January 2008)

GP and Practice Team Bulletin, Issue 70, February 2008 (1st February 2008)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin, January 2008 (1st February 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 5 (1st February 2008)

CSIP Telecare eNewsletter February 2008 (4th February 2008)

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

The longer-term outcomes associated with families who had worked with Intensive Family Support Projects (31st January 2008)

Evidence about the sustainability of interventions to help families at risk of losing their homes as a result of anti-social behaviour. Seven out of ten families' positive changes had been sustained. However, just under a third of families continued to experience complaints about anti-social behaviour, placing the family home at risk.

Click here for the Report