TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Government Response to the 4th Annual Report of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group (28th February 2008)
This response to TPIAG’s recommendations takes account of a major refresh of both the ‘prevention’ and ‘support’ aspects of the Governments strategy, as well as new data (for 2006) which became available in February 2008 and the new Public Service Agreements that were announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Click here for the Report

SURE START

The Impact of Sure Start Local Programmes on Three Year Olds and their Families (4th March 2008)
A new National Evaluation of Sure Start (NESS) report has been published. It found that living in a Sure Start Local Programme (SSLP) area was associated with positive impacts on 5 of the 14 outcomes investigated. Children living in SSLP areas exhibited more positive social behaviour and greater independence/self-regulation, whilst parents made greater use of support services, exhibited less negative parenting and provided a better home-learning environment.
Click here for the Report
Click here for the Summary

STATISTICS

Referral to treatment statistics (admitted patients, non-admitted patients and incomplete RTT times) December 2007 (28th March 2008)

Breast Screening Programme, England, 2006-07 (28th February 2008)
Click here for the Bulletin
Click here for the Data Tables
Click here for the Graphs
Click here for the KC63 Form
Click here for the KC62 Form

Community Care Statistics 2006-07: Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care for Adults, England (28th February 2008)
Click here for the Report
Click here for the Tables

NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting times figures, 31st January 2008 (28th February 2008)

NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting events occurring during the quarter ending 31st December 2007 (29th February 2008)

Cancelled Operations, England, quarter ending December 2007 (29th February 2008)

Waiting times for suspected cancer patients: quarter ending December 2007 (29th February 2008)

Under 18 Conception Statistics 1998-2006 (28th February 2008)
Click here for the Under 18 and Under 16 Conceptions

Click here for the Under 18 Conception data for Local Authorities

Conception statistics in England and Wales, 2006 (provisional) (28th February 2008)

Married people have a lower risk of suicide than non-marrieds (28th February 2008)

Reported deaths involving Clostridium difficile rise by 72 per cent (28th February 2008)

Health Statistics Quarterly 37 Spring 2008 (28th February 2008)

SEXUAL HEALTH

Evaluation of One-Stop Shop (Oss) Models of Sexual Health Provision (27th February 2008)
In 2001, the Government published the National Sexual Health and HIV Strategy and one of the recommendations is the provision of more comprehensive and integrated sexual health services. One of the commitments in the strategy was to undertake an evaluation of different models of One Stop Shops. This report, which has just been published provides valuable findings and information for PCT commissioners and service providers considering an integrated approach as well as those already providing integrated services.
Click here for the Report

PHARMACY

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) launches new online library (29th February 2008)
The Library of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) has today launched myLibrary, a new, free online library for registered pharmacists. myLibrary enables pharmacists to download whole articles from over 1,700 full-text journals, as well as search thousands of abstracted references to published articles in pharmacy, medicine and health.
Click here for the Press Release

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Breech pregnancy information leaflets (February 2008)
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have produced 2 information leaflets regarding being breech at the end of a pregnancy.
Click here for Turning a breech baby in the womb (external cephalic version

Click here for A breech baby at the end of pregnancy

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Committee of Public Accounts – Sustainable employment: supporting people to stay in work and advance – Thirteenth Report of Session 2007-08 (28th February 2008)

Committee of Public Accounts - Coal Health Compensation Schemes – Twelfth Report of Session 2007-08 (29th February 2008)

Work and Pensions Committee – The best start in life? Alleviating deprivation, improving social mobility and eradicating child poverty – Second Report of Session 2007-08 (3rd March 2008)

NICE

Stent insertion for bleeding oesophageal varices (interventional procedures consultation) (26th February 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is examining stent insertion for bleeding oesophageal varices and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Institute's Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about stent insertion for bleeding oesophageal varices. This document summarises the procedure and sets out the provisional recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. It has been prepared for public consultation. Closing date for comments is 27th March 2008.
Click here for the Consultation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for aortic stenosis (interventional procedures consultation) (26th February 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is examining transcatheter aortic valve implantation for aortic stenosis and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Institute's Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about transcatheter aortic valve implantation for aortic stenosis. This document summarises the procedure and sets out the provisional recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. It has been prepared for public consultation. Closing date for comments is 27th March 2008.
Click here for the Consultation

Lumbar infusion test for the investigation of normal pressure hydrocephalus (interventional procedures consultation) (26th February 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is examining the lumbar infusion test for the investigation of normal pressure hydrocephalus and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Institute's Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about the lumbar infusion test for the investigation of normal pressure hydrocephalus. This document summarises the procedure and sets out the provisional recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. It has been prepared for public consultation. Closing date for comments is 27th March 2008.
Click here for the Consultation

Surgical repair of vaginal wall prolapse using mesh (interventional procedures consultation) (28th February 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is examining surgical repair of vaginal wall prolapse using mesh and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Institute's Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about surgical repair of vaginal wall prolapse using mesh. This document summarises the procedure and sets out the provisional recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. It has been prepared for public consultation. Closing date for comments is 27th March 2008.
Click here for the Consultation

Diabetes – insulin pump therapy (Final Appraisal Determination) (28th February 2008)
After considering the feedback from consultation, the Appraisal Committee has prepared a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (review of technology appraisal guidance 57) 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. Closing date for comments is 14th March 2008.
Click here for the Final Appraisal Determination

Click here for the Response to consultee, commentator and public comments

Click here for the Consultee and commentator comments on the ACD

Click here for the Expert comments on the ACD

Click here for the Comments from website consultation

NHS

Response to the independent inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers (28th February 2008)
This is the Secretary of State for Health’s response to the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers, led by Professor Sir John Tooke. Many recommendations are met with a direct response; others of the recommendations are substantial and require further work to develop them ahead of implementation. The response informs national and local planning for recruiting and training doctors in the future.
Click here for the Response

NHS Pay Modernisation: New contracts for general practice services in England (28th February 2008)
The new contract for general practice has contributed to improved recruitment and retention of GPs, with numbers increasing from 26,833 to 30,931 since 2003. However, according to a report out today by the National Audit Office, the contract has cost the Department £1.76 billion more than it originally budgeted for.
Click here for the Full Report
Click here for the Executive Summary
Click here for the Survey of Primary Care Trusts

Use of '084' telephone numbers by local NHS services (3rd March 2008)
PCT chief executives are asked to alert local primary care service providers that there have been a number of concerns raised about the use of 084 telephone numbers. The Department is currently gathering evidence on the coverage and usage of 084 numbers and will consider whether further guidance is necessary in the spring.
Click here for the Letter

A Free Ride? Results and Recommendations from the 2008 Spokes NHS Bicycle Mileage Survey (28th February 2008)
Spokes - the NHS Cycling Network has published a short paper, 'A Free Ride? Results and Recommendations from the 2008 Spokes NHS Bicycle Mileage Survey', based on the first ever survey of cycling provision across the NHS. The Spokes survey, conducted throughout February, concentrated on bicycle mileage, the expenses paid to staff who use their own bikes for business journeys. Under Agenda for Change, NHS employers are required to reimburse staff a minimum of 6.2p per mile for work journeys by bicycle. However, the survey revealed that 22 per cent of Trusts currently pay less than the AfC minimum or nothing at all - whereas another 22 per cent of Trusts pay more generous rates, sometimes up to 50p per mile. The remaining 56 per cent pay the bare minimum.
Click here for the Paper

MATERNITY/MIDWIFERY

Maternity Services Website for Parents Launched (29th February 2008)
The launch of the Healthcare Commission’s maternity website today (Friday) follows the most comprehensive comparative review of maternity services ever carried out. The new website enables users to get comprehensive information about their local maternity service. The new site allows people to easily search for and access information on each trust, and see how they scored.
Click here for the Website

Safe Births: Everybody's business (29th February 2008)
There is a level of public concern about the safety of maternity care in England, highlighted by a number of high-profile cases. The King’s Fund set up an independent inquiry to establish how safe maternity services are and to make practical recommendations for change. This report of their findings is based on oral and written submissions from individuals and organisations, wider literature on patient safety, and visits to maternity units. It has a number of practical recommendations, and underlying all of these is the message that ‘safe teams’ are the key to improving safety.
Click here for the Summary
Click here for the Report

Labouring to better effect: services for women in early labour (The OPAL study) (March 2008)
A research summary presenting an overview of the range of services maternity care providers have introduced to provide advice to women in early labour, focussing on what midwives and women think of them (Spiby et al, 2007).
Click here for the Summary
Click here for the Report

LIBRARY, KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION

Report of a National Review of NHS Health Library Services in England: From Knowledge to Health in the 21st Century (3rd March 2008)
This Review has highlighted the centrality of library, knowledge and information services within the NHS and describes four key purposes for library and knowledge service: Clinical decision making by patients, their carers as appropriate, and health professional; Commissioning decision and health policy making; Research; and Lifelong learning by health professionals. The Report makes detailed recommendations to strengthen library/knowledge services so that they are fit for purpose for the future, and as efficient and effective as possible in making a positive impact on the health of patients and the population. A number of technical issues and implications are raised.
Click here for the Review

National Service Framework for Quality Improvement for NHS Funded Library Services in England (3rd March 2008)
The framework defines the outcomes required for library/knowledge services in England. It provides the national quality assurance framework for service improvement. The intention is that library/knowledge services are aligned to the business needs of the NHS and are demonstrably delivering to need and expectation. The framework is aligned to international and national quality standards and is referenced to key NHS policy and standards including the Standards for Better Health, NHS Litigation Authority and Improving Working Lives. The framework enables NHS organisations and service managers to develop service improvement plans. It also enables commissioners to describe what needs to be commissioned and expected performance outcomes.
Click here for the Framework

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

Department of Health Extra Care Housing Fund: bidding guidance 2008-2010 (3rd March 2008)
A capital grant of £80 million has been made available by the Department of Health to provide funding for the development of Extra Care Housing. The grant will be allocated during 2008-2010; £40 million in 2008-2009 and £40 million in 2009-2010. Local Authority Letter (LASSL(DH)(2007)2) of 10 December 2007, which sets out the specific revenue and capital grant allocations for adults’ personal social services, announced that the Extra Care Housing (ECH) Grant would be allocated to ECH schemes through a bidding process. This guidance is intended to advise local authorities with adult social care responsibilities and their partners on the preparation of bids for the Extra Care Housing Fund for 2008-2010.
Click here for the Bidding Guidance
Click here for the Bidding Form

The Electronic Prescription Service – An introduction to Release 2 for health professionals (March 2008)
NHS Connecting for Health has published the first of a number of planned communication materials to support staff in the run-up to implementation of EPS Release 2. The booklet is aimed at all members of staff who will have responsibility for implementing or using the service once Release 2 is introduced.
Click here for the Booklet

EMERGENCIES

Identifying people who are vulnerable in a crisis: Guidance for emergency planners and responders (3rd March 2008)
This guidance will help the development of local action plans for identifying groups of people who may be vulnerable in an emergency.
Click here for the Guidance

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

More Choice, Greater Voice (28th February 2008)
This document provides a toolkit for undertaking work that will support a whole system approach to planning and developing accommodation and care. It is published by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network at the Care Services Improvement Partnership at the Department of Health and the Department of Communities and Local Government. It is good practice rather than mandatory and has been prepared specifically to accompany the government's new National Housing Strategy for an Ageing Society, to offer guidance for commissioners and providers to enable them to produce accommodation and care strategies for older people.
Click here for the Document

Good practice briefing: Alternatives to supported accommodation – maintaining independence and improving choice for older people (March 2008)
This briefing looks at some of the ways in which older people can be helped to sustain or improve their current accommodation and maintain their independence.
Click here for the Briefing

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS

A new 'University Challenge' (3rd March 2008)
This paper, published today, underlines the importance of universities and Higher Education provision to the nation's economic and social success. The paper sets out various ways in which local higher education benefits communities.
Click here for the Paper

DRUGS

Drugs: protecting families and communities. The 2008 drug strategy (first edition) (27th February 2008)
The drug strategy aims to restrict the supply of illegal drugs and reduce the demand for them. It focuses on protecting families and strengthening communities.
Click here for the Strategy

Drugs: protecting families and communities. Action Plan 2008-2011 (27th February 2008)
The drug strategy covers a ten-year period to 2018, but its delivery is underpinned by a series of three-year action plans. This action plan covers the years 2008-2011.
Click here for the Action Plan

Drugs: protecting families and communities. How we are working to tackle drugs (27th February 2008)
This leaflet outlines the Government's action plan for tackling illegal drugs. It explains what the Government will deliver for families and communities and where readers can go for more information and help.
Click here for the Leaflet

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World – Report No. 4 (26th February 2008)
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been recorded at the highest rates ever, according to a new report published today. The report presents findings from the largest survey to date on the scale of drug resistance in tuberculosis.
Click here for the Report
Click here for the The Global Response Plan
Click here for the The Global Response Plan Factsheet

DIET/NUTRITION

Family Food 2006 (28th February 2008)
Family Food is the source of detailed statistical information on purchased quantities, expenditure and nutrient intakes derived from both household and eating out food and drink. Data is collected for a sample of households in the United Kingdom using self-reported diaries of all purchases, including food eaten out, over a two week period. Where possible quantities are recorded in the diaries but otherwise estimated. Energy and nutrient intakes are calculated using standard profiles for each of some 500 types of food.
Click here for the Publication

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Homes for the Future: more affordable, more sustainable: Summary of Responses to the Housing Green Paper (29th February 2008)
This document sets out a summary of responses received to the Housing Green Paper, following consultation which ran from 23 July to 15 October 2007. It also sets out what steps the Government has taken since the Green paper was published and where relevant to the issues raised by consultees.
Click here for the Document

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Young People: Leading Change (29th February 2008)
This document sets out the Government's commitment to young leaders and provides examples of what young people can achieve when they discover and unlock their talents and are given the confidence and opportunities to use them to make a difference.
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BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

GP and Practice Team Bulletin, Issue 71, March 2008 (29th February 2008)

The Month: Issue 6, February 2008 (29th February 2008)

CNO Bulletin, Issue 66, March 2008 (3rd March 2008)

The Quarter: Quarter 3, 2007-2008 (3rd March 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 9 (29th February 2008)

ASYLUM

Claiming Asylum at a Screening Unit as an Unaccompanied Child (3rd March 2008)
A new report out today (3 March) by the Children’s Commissioner uncovers a series of unacceptable practices faced by unaccompanied children when they apply for asylum in the UK. The report has a series of recommendations aimed at improving how staff at the Border and Immigration Agency communicate with asylum-seeking children and keep them safe throughout the screening process.
Click here for the Report