Preston Nightsafe Conditional Caution Alcohol Awareness Pilot Project - Process Evaluation Final Report (30th June 2008)
Alcohol misuse has been identified as a prominent cause of health inequalities, crime and social disorder in Preston. To address these harms, to reduce future re-offending and to reduce health and criminal justice costs there have been strong recommendations for the wider availability of alcohol brief interventions. The Conditional Cautioning scheme utilises a rehabilitative condition that seeks to divert alcohol‐related offenders from ‘more serious alcohol related crime’ and Preston is one of a small number of chosen pilot areas around the country where alcohol conditional cautioning has been implemented. This report is the external evaluation of the process of alcohol conditional cautioning as determined through in depth interviews with key staff and stakeholders associated with the scheme. The main objectives of the process evaluation are to determine perceptions of success related to staff attitudes, public and victim satisfaction and re‐offending, to examine the effectiveness of interagency working relationships and communication, to identify barriers to implementation and delivery and to pinpoint areas for future development or improvement. Empirical data will be reported as outcomes which will be given in the final outcome evaluation report in July 2008.
Report
The impact of alcohol in Liverpool: quarterly report July 2008 (1st July 2008)
This is the fifth quarterly report for the Liverpool Alcohol Strategy Group and relates to data published between January and March 2008.
Report
Under the influence (1st July 2008)
These are the presentations from the ChaMPs event that was held at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington on 26th June 2008.
Programme
Alcohol - A regional Perspective
The Toxicology of Alcohol
Tackling Alcohol Related Crime & Disorder
The effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems
Under the Influence: Regulation and Enforcement
Local alcohol strategies: progress and sharing good practice
Using data and insight to improve health and well-being
Pathways - Referral Treatment
On the State of Public Health: Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer 2007 (14th July 2008)
The Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2007 draws attention to major health challenges requiring immediate action and details progress made in key areas identified in previous annual reports.
Report
Technical note on drinking and driving for 17 to 20 year olds
Individual chapters
Healthcare Commission Annual Report 2007-08: Making healthcare safer for patients (10th July 2008)
This annual report covers the work of the Healthcare Commission between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008.
Annual Report
National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP): Detailed Analysis of the 2006/07 National Dataset (June 2008)
This report highlights the usefulness of the NCMP for advancing our understanding of underweight, overweight and obesity in children. The report looks at the effects of socio-demographic and other factors on the reported prevalence of childhood obesity. It also identifies areas where improvements can be made, and where further analysis and investigation are required.
Report
The Bercow Review - final report (8th July 2008)
The final report of the independent review, led by John Bercow, of services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs. This report sets out the Review's findings and recommendations to Government, providing an excellent opportunity to bolster support for vulnerable children and young people.
Report
Executive Summary
Summary of Researchers Report
Delivering care closer to home: meeting the challenge (8th July 2008)
The document is a resource for commissioners and others interested in shifting care closer to home. It aims to share local emerging practice, how national enablers can support shifting care, and highlights new products developed to support local commissioners and providers.
Document
Teenage Parents: Who cares? A guide to commissioning and delivering maternity services for young parents (July 2008)
This revised edition of the 2004 guide explains how improving maternity services for pregnant teenagers and young fathers can help PCTs and local authorities to meet a range of targets and policy goals.
Guide
Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities: Statutory Guidance (9th July 2008)
This document provides statutory guidance to local authorities and their partners on creating strong, safe and prosperous communities. It covers the duty to involve and duties around Local Area Agreements in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
Document
Communities in Control: Real people, real power (9th July 2008)
Communities in control tells the story of power, influence and control and how people can use existing and new tools to access it. The White Paper looks at who has power, on whose behalf is it exercised, how is it held to account, and how can it be accessed by everyone in local communities.
White Paper
Evidence Annex
Summary
Impact Assessments
Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities Statutory Guidance: Summary of Responses to Consultation (9th July 2008)
This document provides a summary of responses received as part of the consultation process for the draft statutory guidance Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities.
Responses
NHS Identity Scheme for Dental Practices (3rd July 2008)
This document summarises responses to the consultation on NHS identity scheme for dental practices: "Providing NHS dentistry".
Responses
Annex C - Examples of how the NHS Identity could be used by dentists
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (Constitution) Order 2008: a paper for consultation (7th July 2008)
This draft order sets out a proposed constitution for the NMC. It provides details of the composition of the council, the terms of office of council members, and criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal of members from office. The Nursing and Midwifery (Amendment) Order 2008 was made on 11 June. It makes a number of changes to the constitutional arrangements for the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Instead of the constitutional details of the NMC being set out the in the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001, these details must now be set out in a separate Constitution Order made by the Privy Council. This paper considers the proposed constitution of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Closing date for comments is 21st August 2008.
Consultation
Draft Order
Draft Directions to the Appointments Commission
Consultation Questionnaire
The General Chiropractic Council (Constitution) Order 2008: a paper for consultation (14th July 2008)
This draft order sets out a proposed constitution for the GCC. It provides details of the composition of the council, the terms of office of council members, and criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal of members from office. The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 was made on 9 July. It makes a number of changes to the constitutional arrangements for the General Chiropractic Council. Instead of the constitutional details of the GCC being set out in the Chiropractors Act 1994, these details must now be set out in a separate Constitution Order made by the Privy Council. This paper considers the proposed constitution of the General Chiropractic Council. Closing date for comments is 3rd October 2008.
Consultation
Draft order
Appointment Directions
Response form
Data Sharing Review (11th July 2008)
The review was set up to: consider whether there should be any changes to the way the Data Protection Act 1998 operates in the UK and the options for implementing any such changes; provide recommendations on the powers and sanctions available to the regulator and courts in the legislation governing data sharing and data protection; provide recommendations on how data-sharing policy should be developed in a way that ensures proper transparency, scrutiny and accountability. The review's final report concludes that: there is a lack of transparency and accountability in the way organisations deal with personal information; there is confusion surrounding the Data Protection Act, particularly the way it interacts with other strands of law; greater use could be made of the ability to share personal data safely, particularly in the field of research and statistical analysis; and the Information Commissioner needs more effective powers, and the resources to allow him to use them properly.
Report
Annexes
Safer Nightlife - best practice for those concerned about drug use and the night time economy (11th July 2008)
Produced by the London Drug Policy Forum and the Home Office, Safer Nightlife promotes best practice for all those working in the night-time economy. Its purpose is to help ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in, and going out to, events in pubs and clubs with particular emphasis on those who also take drugs. The document provides dedicated advice on a range of key issues including: creating a safe physical environment, tackling drug dealing, reducing harm from drug use, promoting sexual health and developing a drug policy.
Document
Family Intervention Projects: An evaluation of their design, set-up and early outcomes (10th July 2008)
This report assesses the development and early outcomes of the network of family intervention projects. These projects aimed to reduce anti-social behaviour perpetrated by the most anti-social and challenging families, prevent cycles of homelessness due to this behaviour and achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes for children and young people.
Report
Summary
Parenting in ordinary families: Diversity, complexity and change (11th July 2008)
Health and social service workers often have to decide whether parenting is appropriate. Similarly, policy-makers planning services for families need information about parenting norms and detrimental parenting. This report is intended to provide support for such decision-making, so as both to reduce the risks to children and avoid inappropriate censuring of parents. It examines parenting in Britain during early and middle childhood within different social and cultural groups. It also looks at how parenting develops and changes over time.
Report
Findings
Making the difference: The Pacesetters beginner’s guide to service improvement for equality and diversity in the NHS (7th July 2008)
This guide is intended to raise awareness of service improvement approaches for those working within the Pacesetters programme. Service improvement is concerned with testing ideas, sustaining and sharing best practice to make a tangible difference in outcomes and experience for staff and service users. It is primarily intended for NHS organisations who are part of the Pacesetters programme; however, will also be useful for other organisations.
Click here for the Guide
Guidance on redemption of NHS optical vouchers (4th July 2008)
This guidance describes the arrangements for requesting information about optical vouchers and redemption of optical vouchers following the introduction of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2008 and the issue of the NHS (Redemption of Optical Vouchers) Determination 2008. This note is not a substitute for reading the Regulations and Determination.
Guidance
Determination 2008
Regulations 2008
Charging for residential accommodation guide (CRAG) 2008 - draft (4th July 2008)
The Department of Health (DH) are in the last stages of updating CRAG, however to assist people in the meantime they are publishing the latest draft of it. A fully revised 2008 CRAG will be published as soon as possible.
Click here for the Draft
Ambitions for health - a strategic framework for maximising the potential of social marketing and health-related behaviour (9th July 2008)
This strategic framework sets out how the DH plan to work together with key leaders in the public health community to embed social marketing principles into health improvement programmes. Its also illustrates the practical tools they are developing to build social marketing competencies and capacity in England. It sets out how they will make sure that all of their policy development and public health interventions are informed by their understanding of what motivates people. In turn, this will enable them to build on our successes and ensure that they become a world leader in promoting health.
Ambitions for Health
Action Plan
Healthy Foundations - a Segmentation Model
What is social marketing?
Health and Intergovernmental Relations in the Devolved United Kingdom (14th July 2008)
Knowing how devolution in health really works – who can do what – matters much more now that all four UK governments are different political colours, increasingly disagree about major issues, and are more likely to be in conflict. In this report, authors: explain the legal and administrative underpinnings of devolution and how they shape the policies pursued in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; identify the various kinds of tension building up along administrative and physical borders, and the likelihood of major intergovernmental conflict; and explain the administrative and political dispute resolution mechanisms, which the authors find disturbingly weak.
Click here for the Report
Health Informatics Review Report (10th July 2008)
This report builds on the Next Stage Review by describing how informatics is supporting the delivery of better, safer care of patients, improving the NHS through better research, planning and management, and empowering patients to make more informed choices about health and care.
Click here for the Report
Frequently asked questions
Equality impact assessment
NHS 60 - Health Protection Timeline (2nd July 2008)
This timeline, from the Health Protection Agency, was produced to help celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS.
Click here for the Timeline
Safeguarding children. The third joint chief inspectors’ report on arrangements to safeguard children (8th July 2008)
The report, ‘Safeguarding Children’ is published every three years. It assesses how well agencies are working at both national and local levels to safeguard children and young people. Much has changed in the landscape of children’s services since the previous Safeguarding Children report in 2005. As a result of improved safeguarding arrangements, most children now feel safe in their homes and communities, and are receiving the quality of care and support that they need. But some children and young people are still not well enough served by public services. This is particularly the case for those who are looked after by their local authority, who are in secure settings or are asylum-seeking children, according to the third joint Chief Inspectors’ review of arrangements to safeguard children.
Click here for the Report
Towards better births. A review of maternity services in England (10th July 2008)
The Healthcare Commission today urged the NHS to redouble efforts to improve maternity services by enhancing the quality of clinical care and the experiences of women. This national report on maternity services, contains conclusions and recommendations from a major review involving 150 NHS trusts in England. The Commission has for the first time thrown a spotlight on services from the start of pregnancy, through labour and birth, to postnatal care. The report contains seven recommendations with a checklist for implementation. The recommendations relate to: monitoring standards of care; ensuring that there is sufficient staff; gathering and acting on the views of those using services; encouraging team working; training staff and keeping skills up to date; collecting information on outcomes; meeting the requirements of women from higher-risk groups.
Click here for the Report
Making a difference? An evaluation of the performance of the Healthcare Commission 2004-2008 (14th July 2008)
This report presents the findings of a programme of independent research to assess the Healthcare Commission’s overall impact between 2004 and 2008.
Click here for the Report
Mobility and Social Housing (2nd July 2008)
This third paper in the Planning for the Future series looks at mobility and social housing – who moves between houses within the sector, who moves out of social housing completely, and what the different motives of each group are. As the first paper in the series pointed out, mobility within social housing and moves to other tenures are not as significant as they are for other sectors. While from a housing management viewpoint such stability has advantages, it also carries a warning: social tenants might not be as mobile as they need to be if they are to improve their economic circumstances and get jobs (or get better jobs).
Click here for the Paper
National Housing and Planning Advice Unit Research Findings Number Two: Impact of worsening affordability on demand for social and affordable housing - tenure choice and household formation (2nd July 2008)
This paper examines how the worsening affordability of owner occupation affects tenure choice and the ability of households to form.
Click here for the Paper
Training video - an introduction to hand hygiene (July 2008)
Aimed at front line staff, this training video addresses when, where, how and why healthcare workers should clean their hands.
Click here for the Video
Healthcare associated infections (7th July 2008)
Healthcare-associated infections are a major concern to patients and the public as a result of both high rates of infection across the NHS, and media coverage of outbreaks at individual hospitals. The government has put in place a range of policies designed to reduce healthcare-associated infections in NHS organisations in England (with a similar priority being given in Scotland and Wales). This briefing provides some background on the infections that give most concern, their causes, prevalence and impact. It also summarises the policies and strategies being deployed in England to reduce infections, and offers some analysis of their likely effectiveness.
Click here for the Briefing
History in the making. An oral history of the healthcare manager role (June 2008)
In 2007 the IHM (Institute of Healthcare Management) launched a project to capture the oral history of the healthcare manager role. Over sixty managers contributed to this document.
Click here for the Document
Standards for Maternity Care. Report of a Working Party (June 2008)
The Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Anaesthetists have worked together to agree these standards for maternity care, which are applicable to maternity services anywhere and which they believe will facilitate development of equitable, safe and high-quality care for mothers and their babies.
Click here for the Document
Click here for the Audit Indicators
Standards Database
Government response to the Health Select Committee Report ‘modernising medical careers’ (7th July 2008)
The Health Select Committee published their report into Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) on 8th May 2008. The Government has today set out its response to the conclusions and recommendations of that report.
Click here for the Report
Support, time and recovery (STR) workers: a competence framework: best practice guidance (3rd July 2008)
This best practice guidance sets out the background, purpose, and development of the Competence Framework for Support, Time and Recovery (STR) workers employed across health and social care sectors of mental health. It supports the original STR guidance of 2003 and the STR handbook of 2007.
Guidance
Learning from the national implementation programme (originally published 9th January 2008)
Mental health policy implementation guide: Support, Time and Recovery (STR) workers (originally published 7th February 2003)
Pandemic influenza: guidance on preparing mental health services in England (2nd July 2008)
This document is designed to assist mental health trusts and other specialist mental health service providers in developing their plans for responding to an influenza pandemic. This document details a national approach, setting out the key planning assumptions and principles, roles and responsibilities that should inform the development of local plans.
Click here for the Document
Fair Deal for Mental Health (2nd July 2008)
This campaign was launched today by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The 3 year campaign covers eight priority areas: Funding, Access to Services, In-patient Services, Recovery, Discrimination and Stigma, Engagement with service users/carers, Availability of Psychological therapies and Linking mental and physical health.
Click here for the Document
NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care (3rd July 2008)
Our vision is for primary and community care to provide high quality, personal care and support, treating people when they're sick and helping them stay healthy, where and when they need it most. Primary and community care services are regarded with pride at home and admiration abroad. Thanks to the dedication of family doctors, community nurses, health visitors, allied health professionals, social care professionals, pharmacists, dentists and opticians, most patients enjoy good quality care, close to home. There are high levels of satisfaction with services and trust in the staff who provide them. We need to ensure that high-quality care is a consistent part of everyone's experience of primary and community care. Services need to evolve to reflect changes in healthcare and society. This document sets out a vision for how services will continue to grow and develop over the next ten years. It is a vision of a continuously improving service, where essential standards are guaranteed and excellence is rewarded. Also available are summary versions of the document for different audiences.
Our vision for primary and community care
What it means for patients and the public
What it means for GPs and practice staff
What it means for nurses, midwives, health visitors and AHPs
What it means for local government
Impact assessment of NHS Next Stage Review: Proposals for primary and community care
Engagement Analysis - NHS Next Stage Review. What we heard from the Our NHS, Our Future process (7th July 2008)
This report sets out responses to Lord Darzi’s wide-ranging review of the NHS which used a variety of mechanisms to engage over 60,000 participants. Participants belong broadly to three groups who contribute from their own perspective as follows: patients and public – personal experiences at point of care; expectations, needs and wishes; staff – hands-on experience of providing care in various settings, often over a long period, giving information from the front-line, and demonstrating the challenges they face; and stakeholders – overviews, based on aggregate experience captured in anecdotal,commissioned or academic research, often informed by groups of patients and staff.
Click here for the Report
Sixty years of the National Health Service: a proud past and a healthy future (2nd July 2008)
A short history of the NHS to celebrate its 60th birthday, based on the remarkable experiences of staff who have worked for the NHS over decades, as well as patients whose lives have been transformed through treatment. 'Sixty years of the NHS - a proud past and a healthy future' tells the story of how the NHS came about, how it has developed over the years and its focus for the future.
Click here for the Publication
A review of the consequences of additional private drugs for NHS care (7th July 2008)
Professor Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for Cancer, is to review policy relating to patients who choose to pay privately for drugs not funded on the NHS and who, as a result, are required to pay for the NHS care that they would otherwise have received free.
Click here for the Terms of Reference
Visions for care in strategic health authorities (1st July 2008)
As part of Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS, each strategic health authority (SHA) outside London was commissioned to produce a report outlining their ‘vision’ for care in their region over the coming decade. This briefing provides a thematic summary of some of the key features of the nine SHA plans.
Click here for the Briefing
In the beginning: Determinants of Health (4th July 2008)
This briefing looks at the early years of the NHS and the challenges it faced, from long waiting lists to shortages of staff. It also looks forward to what the next 60 years might hold for the NHS. It is based on a series of Data briefings by John Appleby and Ruth Thorlby published in the Health Service Journal between January and July 2008.
Click here for the Briefing
Rejuvenate or Retire: Views of the NHS at 60 (3rd July 2008)
For the 60th Anniversary of the NHS, The Nuffield Trust has brought together many of the major players involved in the development of the health service for its latest publication Rejuvenate or Retire: Views of the NHS at 60. Containing a series of candid reflections on the successes and failures of the NHS, important insights into its history and key challenges for the future, it is essential reading for healthcare leaders, policy-makers, students, and all those interested in the history and prospects of this very British institution.
Click here for the Document
Survival rates publication on NHS Choices (9th July 2008)
This document provides an explanation of the methodology behind the creation of the survival indicators. It includes standardised mortality ratios (SMR) for each trust and the following procedures. Elective repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, emergency repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, elective hip replacement and elective knee replacement.
Click here for the Document
Therapeutic hypothermia with intracorporeal temperature monitoring for hypoxic perinatal brain injury (interventional procedures consultation) (30th June 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is examining therapeutic hypothermia with intracorporeal temperature monitoring for hypoxic perinatal brain injury 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 therapeutic hypothermia with intracorporeal temperature monitoring for hypoxic perinatal brain injury. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2008.
Click here for the Consultation
Transabdominal artificial bowel sphincter implantation for faecal incontinence (interventional procedures consultation) (30th June 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is examining transabdominal artificial bowel sphincter implantation for faecal incontinence 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 transabdominal artificial bowel sphincter implantation for faecal incontinence. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2008.
Click here for the Consultation
Lung cancer (non-small cell) - erlotinib (appraisal consultation) (4th July 2008)
The Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government have asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a single technology appraisal (STA) of erlotinib and provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its fifth 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 erlotinib. Closing date for comments is 25th July 2008.
Click here for the Consultation
Click here for the Evaluation Report
Breast cancer (advanced or metastatic) - lapatinib (appraisal consultation) (7th July 2008)
The Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a single technology appraisal (STA) of lapatinib (in combination with capecitabine) and provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee 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 lapatinib. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2008.
Click here for the Consultation
Click here for the Evaluation Report
Osteoporosis - secondary prevention including strontium ranelate: final appraisal determination (8th July 2008)
After considering the feedback from consultation, the Appraisal Committee has prepared a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene, strontium ranelate and teriparatide for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women 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 21st July 2008.
Final Appraisal Determination
Expert comments on the ACD
Consultee and commentator comments on the ACD
Response to consultee, commentator and public comments on the ACD
Osteoporosis - primary prevention: final appraisal determination (8th July 2008)
After considering the feedback from consultation, the Appraisal Committee has prepared a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene and strontium ranelate for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women 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 21st July 2008.
Final Appraisal Determination
Expert comments on the ACD
Consultee and commentator comments on the ACD
Response to consultee, commentator and public comments on the ACD
Sedation in infants, children and young people: scope consultation (11th July 2008)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Sedation in infants, children and young people for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Registered stakeholders for the Sedation in infants, children and young people guideline are invited to submit comments on the scope and may suggest clinical questions that could be answered in the guideline. Closing date for comments is 8th August 2008.
Click here for Draft Scope
Click here for Comments Proforma
Latest Implementation Tools (9th July 2008)
Perioperative hypothermia (inadvertent)
Click here for Audit Support
Click here for Implementation Advice
Stronger Voice, better care - Local Involvement Networks (LINks) explained (8th July 2008)
Local Involvement Networks (LINks) have been introduced to help strengthen the system that enables communities to influence local health and care services. Backed up by certain powers, LINks aim to: provide everyone in the community – from individuals to voluntary groups - with the chance to say what they think about local health and social care services; give people the chance to influence how services are planned and run; feedback to services what people have said about services so that things can be improved. This document explains more about LINks and how you can make your voice heard by getting involved. This publication supersedes previous versions of the 'LINks explained'.
Click here for the Report
Out of Sight, Out of Mind (July 2008)
Our prison population is at its highest ever. Of the 82,000 prisoners in England and Wales it is estimated that nine out of ten have one or more mental health disorders. Although treatment of mental illness in prison has improved over the past decade, mental healthcare is not given the attention it deserves. The rates of mental illness among prisoners suggest that the Prison Service has become a catch-all social and mental healthcare service, as well as a breeding ground for poor mental health.
Click here for the Document
Community pharmacy and alcohol-misuse services: a review of policy and practice (8th July 2008)
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB’s) Policy Development Unit commissioned this paper to assess the feasibility of community pharmacy-based services for alcohol misuse, and to identify how such services would fit with government alcohol policies in the three GB countries.
Click here for the Paper
A minimum income standard for Britain: what people think (1st July 2008)
While politicians from all parties are committed to tackling relative poverty, the debates lack a robust definition of a minimum income standard (MIS), below which people’s incomes should not fall. This study devised a minimum income standard for Britain based on what members of the public said, and shows the cost of covering basic goods and services for different household types. The project blends the best elements of the two main methods that have been used to develop budget standards in Britain in recent years. It reconciles the views of experts with those of ordinary people, allowing budgets based on social consensus to be tested against expert knowledge and research. As such, the MIS represents a new and important tool for informing social policy in order to promote fairness and well-being in Britain.
Click here for the Report
Click here for the Findings
Research and development work relating to assistive technology 2007-08. Presented pursuant to section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (7th July 2008)
The report covers research and development work carried out by or on behalf of any government department in relation to equipment that might increase the range and independence of older and disabled people.
Click here for the Report
Exploring Service Needs and Access in Rural Areas Following a Stroke (11th July 2008)
This pilot study looks at services for stroke survivors in the Hereford and Worcester area.
Click here for the Document
Rapid Sexual Health Needs Assessment: Knowsley Primary Care Trust (3rd July 2008)
Report looking at sexual health needs, demands and services and a gap analysis for Knowsley Primary Care Trust.
Click here for the Report
Sexually transmitted infections and young people in the United Kingdom: 2008 report (15th July 2008)
The Health Protection Agency has reported a 6% increase in the total number of new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in 2007 compared to 2006. While just one in eight of the population are aged 16 to 24 years old, this age group accounts for around half of all newly diagnosed STIs in the UK - 65% of all chlamydia (79,557 of 121,986), 55% of all genital warts (49,250 of 89,838) and 50% of gonorrhoea (9,410 of 18,710) infections diagnosed in GUM clinics last year.
Click here for the Report
Forever cool: the influence of smoking imagery on young people (6th July 2008)
This report, from the BMA, calls on the UK Governments to introduce a range of tough measures aimed at reducing young people’s exposure to positive images of smoking.
Click here for the report
Evaluation of the new social work degree qualification in England (8th July 2008)
In 2004 DH commissioned a three-year research project to evaluate the effects of the policy change in social work education and the move from a 2 year Diploma to a 3 year honours degree as the professional qualification in social work. The work was undertaken by three teams of researchers from Glasgow School of Social Work, Sharpe Research and the Social Care Workforce Research Unit at Kings College. The core research agenda was to evaluate the impact of the new three-year social work degree on the quality and quantity of recruits to the professional social care workforce.
Click here for Volume 1 - Findings
Click here for Volume 2 - Technical Appendix
How to achieve dignity status in care homes (3rd July 2008)
Document from Manchester City Council outlining the Dignity Daisy standards.
Click here for the Document
The 2007 user satisfaction survey of Tier 2 and 3 service users in England (June 2008)
The 2007 survey reveals some significant group differences in terms of satisfaction with drug treatment, although the vast majority of service users were generally satisfied with their drug treatment, viewed the treatment they received in positive terms and agreed that drug treatment had made a difference in their lives.
Click here for the Document
The 2007 user satisfaction survey of Tier 4 service users in England (June 2008)
The vast majority of respondents were generally satisfied with their treatment, viewed it in positive terms and agreed that it has had a positive impact on their lives.
Click her for the Document
The value of new public transport in deprived areas: who benefits, how and why? (9th July 2008)
Regeneration strategies for deprived areas are currently under review. To date there has been little if any direct evaluation of the contribution of transport services to local regeneration. This study evaluates the benefits – both monetary and quality of life – of transport services to the people who use them and to the local practitioners responsible for the wider regeneration of these neighbourhoods.
Click here for the Report
Click here for the Findings
Standards for Gynaecology. Report of a Working Party (June 2008)
This Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist working party has worked with the professional societies to agree these standards which are applicable to gynaecological services everywhere and which they believe will facilitate development of equitable, safe and high-quality services.
Click here for the Standards
