This bulletin highlights recently produced documents that have appeared on websites. The aim is to trawl the web and produce a fortnightly review of what is found (coverage may not be comprehensive). If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this Bulletin, please send an email to library.pct@sthk.nhs.uk. All links are correct at time of publishing. Some documents are large and may take time to open so please be patient when waiting for links to open. If a link is incorrect please email me and I will correct the link and send you the document.For those that are receiving this through an email or through a third party you can view the original Bulletin at http://www.newdocumentsbulletin.blogspot.com/ and also sign up to receive the Bulletin by RSS.
Preventing child accidents in the home (18th March 2009)Accidents in the home are the biggest cause of injury to children under five. Tragically, around 500,000 under fives every year are admitted to hospital after an accident at home. More tragically, many of these accidents could have been prevented by taking simple steps.
To help parents of young children and the practitioners who work with them keep children safe from accidents at home the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) has produced:
- Accidents and Child Development, an easy-to-use guidance booklet for any practitioners involved with the safety, or care of children
- How Safe is Your Child at Home?, a short leaflet for parents and carers, covering common risks to children in the home and how they can be reduced.
Accidents and Child Development
How Safe is Your Child at Home?
The impact of alcohol in Greater Manchester: quarterly report. Report number 3 February 2009 (12th March 2009)This report identifies available alcohol intelligence across Greater Manchester.
Report
150 years of the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer: On the state of public health 2008 (16th March 2009)The Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2008 draws attention to major health challenges requiring immediate action, and details progress made in key areas identified in previous annual reports.
The report calls for a new focus on 'passive drinking', and that it should be taken seriously. It also draws attention to the quality of advice and support given to men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Additionally, it highlights the extent of chronic pain, antimicrobial resistance and the use of simulation to prepare doctors for the real world.
Report
SCIE Guide 15: Dignity in Care - Nutritional Care (20th March 2009)As part of the Nutrition Action Plan, Department of Health (DH) and Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) agreed to update their online Dignity in Care Practice Guide with new information on nutritional care. The revised guide draws on the latest evidence base and practice in this area. It covers nutritional care and hydration.
Guide
The Protection of Children in England: A progress report (12th March 2009)This document, and its recommendations by Lord Laming, are aimed at making sure that good practice becomes standard practice in every service. This includes recommendations on improving the inspection of safeguarding services and the quality of Serious Case Reviews as well as recommendations on improving the help and support children receive when they are at risk of harm.
The document aims to: evaluate the good practice that has been developed since the publication of the report of the Independent Statutory Inquiry following the death of Victoria Climbié; identify the barriers that are now preventing good practice becoming standard practice; and recommend actions to be taken to make systematic improvements in safeguarding children across the country.
Report A Children's Environment and Health Strategy for the UK (24th March 2009)The Health Protection Agency today publishes a Strategy to improve the health and well-being of children in the United Kingdom by changing the environment in which they live. The Agency was commissioned to write the report by the Department of Health.
Report
Tackling Concerns Locally: report of the Working Group (20th March 2009)This report sets out the principles of best practice on how local systems for clinical governance could be strengthened to promote continuous improvement in the quality of care and enable healthcare organisations to identify and deal with those healthcare professionals whose performance, conduct or health could put patients at risk.
Report
Commissioning Services and support for people with learning disabilities and complex needs (16th March 2009)The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC), today published a joint report reviewing how councils and PCTs commission services on behalf of people with a learning disability. The watchdogs conducted the review following a series of reports over the past decade that point to poor care for people with a learning disability, particularly those with complex needs. This is the first review to focus specifically on how councils and PCTs commission services.Report Health Poverty Index (March 2009)The Health Poverty Index (HPI) is a web based tool that allows geographical areas and different ethnic groups to be compared in terms of their health poverty.
A group's health poverty is a summary measure of both their present state of health and future health potential or lack of it. The latest update of the HPI was released in conjunction with a new HPI workbook, which guides the user through some of the features of the tool and demonstrates how the index can be used to provide a single visual summary of an area's health poverty.
Information Commissioning healthcare for people with learning disabilities (16th March 2009)This briefing, from NHS Confederation, is intended to raise awareness of issues in the commissioning of services for people with learning disabilities that meet their specific needs and enhance the development of mainstream services that are fit for purpose.
Briefing
Young people, and gun and knife crime: a review of the evidence (16th March 2009)This report, from the Children's Commissioner, is the outcome of an extensive review of English language evidence about the effectiveness of interventions designed to tackle children and young people's involvement in gun and knife crime. It also examines the research evidence about what factors in the lives of children and young people make them more or less likely to become involved in weapon-carrying and violent behaviour and considers the perceptions, values and motivations of the children and young people involved.
Report Solutions to gun and knife crime. Final report (15th March 2009)This report presents the findings from a survey of a representative sample of over 1,700 young people aged between 8 and 17 years old. The subject of the survey was chosen by consulting with young people about what issue they thought should form the basis of 11 Million's main project for 2008/09.
Report
Response to the consultation on the extension and revision of Direct Payments Regulations (19th March 2009)The Health and Social Care Act 2008 extended direct payments to adults who lack the capacity to consent to their receipt. From August to November 2008, the Department of Health consulted on regulations implementing the extension. This document summarises the responses to the consultation and outlines what subsequent action the Department proposes to take.
Consultation Response Developing the quality and outcomes framework: proposals for a new independent process; consultation response and analysis (19th March 2009)The Consultation, Developing the Quality and Outcomes Framework: proposals for a new, independent process, set out proposals for how a new, NICE-led, independent process for reviewing and developing QOF indicators should work. This document provides an analysis of submissions to the consultation and sets out the Government response.
Consultation Response Guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care: consultation response (23rd March 2009)Following a 12 week consultation, from 4 November 2008 to 27 January 2009, the Department of Health has now published final guidance on NHS patients wishing to pay for additional private care, alongside a Government response to the consultation.
Consultation Response and Guidance
Pacesetters Programme equality impact assessment: draft for consultation (17th March 2009)Pacesetters is a collaboration between DH, the NHS and local communities that aims to address patient and workforce inequalities that arise from discrimination and disadvantage. The Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) is issued for consultation, and all comments and criticisms will be taken into account as the programme moves forward. Closing date for comments is 2nd June 2009.
Consultation The Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator Regulations 2009: a paper for consultation (20 March 2009)These draft regulations set out a proposed composition for the Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator (OHPA). They provide details of the composition of the board, and requirements applying to persons appointed as a member of OHPA (including aggregate terms of office of members in respect of the Chair or Non-Executive Directors) and criteria for disqualification from appointment as a member. Closing date for comments is 19th June 2009.
Consultation Safeguarding children and young people who may be affected by gang activity (18th March 2009)The Government is committed to publishing good practice guidance for agencies on safeguarding children and young people affected by gang activity. The guidance is supplementary to, and should be used in conjunction with, the Government’s statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006). This supplementary guidance is intended to help agencies and professionals ensure that the safeguarding process responds effectively to the needs of children and young people who are at risk of gang-related violence and harm. Closing date for comments is 19th June 2009.Consultation Fitness to Practice Rules (19th March 2009)The General Medical Council (GMC) has launched a two-month consultation into a package of proposed changes to its Fitness to Practise Rules. The proposed changes to the Fitness to Practise Rules form part of the GMC’s ongoing and regular review of its procedures. It is one of several planned consultations on proposed changes in fitness to practise policy for 2009. Closing date for comments is 22nd May 2009.
Consultation
Dentistry review update (18th March 2009)As part of the independent review of NHS Dentistry Professor Jimmy Steele will be providing regular updates on the emerging key themes and issues. These updates will reflect on the responses that people have been sending into the review mailbox and Professor Steele's observations as he engages with key stakeholders around the country.
Update NHS dental charges from 1 April 2009 (23rd March 2009)This poster outlines the charges applicable from 1st April 2009.
Poster
Cooking up health (18th March 2009)In the age of the ready meal, many people have forgotten how to cook. But Coventry City Council is helping people rediscover the joys of cookery. The council’s Food and Nutrition service is providing one-to-one home help on cooking and healthy eating.
Information Community food initiatives (11th March 2009)Differences in income and wealth create inequalities in terms of opportunities to make healthy choices about where and how we live.
In particular, higher prices for healthy food have the greatest impact on those least able to bear them. Worse still, the gap, particularly in fruit consumption and in overall nutrient intake, has widened over the past two decades.
Following a member-led Best Value Review of its role in Public Health, Greenwich Council has developed an ambitious Healthier Communities Strategy. It is based on a thorough understanding of local people’s health needs and the drivers of poor health and health inequalities.
Report
AskSARA (25th March 2009)The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF)has relaunched it's award-winning, innovative online guided advice tool AskSARA with a new improved, user friendly design, along with added features and updated content.
Tool
The Coronary Heart Disease National Service Framework: Buidling on excellence, maintaining progress - progress report for 2008 (20th March 2009)This report details the progress which has been made in implementing the Coronary Heart Disease National Service Framework in the eight years since its publication.
Report UK Iinflammatory Bowel Disease 2nd Round (2008) Report (March 2009)The second national audit of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has found that many services for patients with IBD have improved; however, there was still wide variation in the provision of care and many services had not improved at all. Success stories include the provision of prophylactic heparin, more designated specialist ward areas and specialist nurses, and more nursing sessions, but toilet facilities and provision of psychological support still remain very poor and do not meet patients' needs.
Report
Tackling Concerns Nationally: establishing the Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator (20th March 2009)This report makes recommendations to Ministers on the establishment of an independent body to adjudicate (i.e., to judge and make final decisions) on medical fitness to practise cases brought before the General Medical Council (GMC). An independent adjudicator is being established because the Government believes that the final decision making body in medical fitness to practise cases should be independent of both the GMC and of the doctor in question to ensure absolute fairness.
Report
Drug Treatment at the Crossroads (18th March 2009)This report, from DrugScope, reflects on the results and prospects of drug treatment in the UK ten years on from the introduction in 1998 of the national drug strategy. The report concludes that investment in drug treatment is delivering real and substantial benefits for individuals, communities and society at large.
Report
Dignity Leaflet and Guidance (17th March 2009)The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have published new guidance for nurses and an advice leaflet for the public in response to stastitics on public perceptions of dignity for older people using care services.
Guidance
Accounting for LIFT schemes under International Financial Reporting Standards (13th March 2009)The Audit Commission has issued this guidance to its auditors on accounting for LIFT schemes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. In the Commission's view, LIFT schemes are service concession arrangements as defined by IFRIC 12: Service Concession Arrangements and, as such, the assets will need to be recognised on the balance sheets of PCTs when they restate their accounts in accordance with IFRS. The guidance explains the issues that need to be taken into account when considering the accounting treatment for LIFT schemes.
Guidance
Annual plan 2009/10 - Advice for NHS Foundation Trusts (13th March 2009)This document is intended to help NHS Foundation Trusts prepare their annual plan submissions. This document has been issued in draft pending publication of the amended Compliance Framework
Document
Proteinuria: detection and quantitation in adults using ACR: information for GPs (12th March 2009)Proteinuria is an important indicator of kidney disease, and the risk of its progression; its measurement is part of the diagnosis, staging and monitoring of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Information sheets have been produced for laboratories, and for GPs, which summarise the benefits of using ACR, and provide practical guidance on its use.
Information Sheet Changing Partnerships (19th March 2009)This discussion paper, from the Royal College of General Practitioners, questions whether the shifting employment landscape will ultimately diminish the role of the GP in the UK and lead to fewer candidates choosing general practice as a career.
Until the late 1990s a partnership arrangement with doctors working as self-employed contractors was the norm, but the recent rise of salaried positions among younger GPs has led to concerns over the future continuity and quality of patient care, and specifically doctors' personal and financial commitment to their work in the community.
Paper
Critical issues for Electronic Health Records - considerations from an expert workshop (12th March 2009)This report is based on the Electronic Health Records Symposium - an expert seminar hosted by the Nuffield Trust and Wellcome Trust. This seminar brought together health leaders, policy-makers and academics to identify the key priorities involved in research, strategy and implementation of electronic health record systems (EHR).
Critical Issues for Electronic Health Records – Considerations from an expert workshop augments the workshop findings with further comment from the authors and identifies the key requirements for successful EHR systems implementation, integration and maintenance worldwide.
Report
High Dose Radiation Effects and Tissue Injury RCE 10 (19th March 2009)A report reviewing the effects of high doses of radiation on human health has been published by an independent expert Advisory Group to the Health Protection Agency. The report, at the request of the Department of Health, also addresses specific issues concerning the medical management of radiation accidents and incidents.
The report makes several recommendation on how the UK could improve the dianosis of radiation damaged patients, the treatment of patients suffering the physical and psychological effects of a radiation incident, as well as the future training needs of clinicians.
Report
Quality of healthcare in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland: an intra-UK chartbook (12th March 2009)A new chartbook launched by the Health Foundation brings together data for the first time from across the four home nations of the UK to present a unique picture of quality. The chartbook shows that that all four countries in recent years have seen significant falls in mortality from cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke. Patient ratings of quality across the UK are also high, though all four countries are still trying to improve health inequalities between the best and worst among their populations.
Chartbook
Investigation into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (17th March 2009)This report, published today, criticises Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust for significant failings in emergency healthcare, leadership and management. There is also a letter from David Nicholson, Chief Executive NHS, drawing the attention of all NHS chairs, chief executives, medical and nurse directors to this report.
Press Release
Report
Summary Report
Terms of Reference
Letter The Healthcare Commission 2004-2009: Regulating healthcare - experience and lessons (19th March 2009)The Healthcare Commission today (Thursday) publishes its report on the impact of NHS regulation on healthcare, and identifies areas where lessons can be learned. The report comes as the Healthcare Commission approaches the end of its time as the independent regulator of the NHS. A new integrated regulator of health, mental health and adult social care, the Care Quality Commission, will take over on 1 April 2009. The report considers how independent regulation has contributed to better outcomes and quality of care for people since 2004, as well as highlighting lessons for both regulation and the healthcare system as a whole.
Report Improving services for children in hospital - report of the follow-up to the 2005/06 review (13th March 2009)The Healthcare Commission today (Friday) publishes a report detailing progress by 154 NHS acute trusts since it reviewed services for children in hospital in 2005/06. The 2005/06 review showed that services were generally good when children were inpatients in specialist paediatric services. But there was a need for significant improvement in the care of children being treated in other settings.
This latest report focuses on emergency and day case settings, looking at the areas that the Commission had previously highlighted as particular concerns. Results for each trust across 19 indicators of performance are published alongside the report.
Report Safe in the knowledge: How do NHS trust boards ensure safe care for their patients? (12th March 2009)This report aims to help the boards of all types of NHS trust to identify and develop the key behaviours and measures that they should review on a regular basis, to determine whether they are truly commissioning and delivering the safest possible care – and if not, what needs to change.
ReportSafely does it: Implementing safer care for patients (12th March 2009)This study looks at whether NHS organisations have the systems in place, from ‘the ward to the board’, to ensure that the care they provide to patients is as safe as reasonably possible. It is written for the boards of all types of NHS trust, senior managers, clinicians and risk managers.
Report Commission looks at possibility of checking carbon reduction monitoring in the NHS (23rd March 2009)The Healthcare Commission has today published a report it commissioned from the NHS Sustainable Development Unit, which looks at the data currently available to support NHS trusts being assessed for carbon reduction monitoring by the regulator. We will be sharing the report's findings and recommendations with the Care Quality Commission, which becomes responsible for regulating the NHS on 1 April 2009.
Report National NHS Staff Survey 2008 (25th March 2009)This is the sixth annual national survey of NHS staff, in which almost 290,000 NHS staff were asked for their views on working in the NHS. The aim of this survey is to gather information that will improve the working lives of NHS staff and help to provide better care for patients. Findings of the survey show a decline in the number of workers who say they experienced bullying, harassment or abuse by patients or their relatives and that nine out of 10 feel they make a difference for patients. Many more NHS staff also say they are trained in infection control and that hand-washing materials are always available when they need them. The Commission said the results highlight some real and significant progress that is to be celebrated. However, it said the results also indicate a need to improve the way that leaders in the NHS communicate their vision for the service and how managers act on feedback from staff. The findings also point to a need to improve the structure of teams and to clarify teams' objectives.
Survey
Mental Ill Health in the Adult Single Homeless Population - a review of the literature (16th March 2009)This report, from Crisis, reviews the national and international literature on mental ill health in the adult, single homeless population, with an estimate of the prevalence of mental ill health among adult single homeless people in the UK and commentary on housing interventions in this group.
Report
Health Action Planning and Health Facilitation for people with learning disabilities: good practice guidance (19th March 2009)The purpose of this guidance is to describe and clarify good practice in health facilitation and health action planning and support localities to make progress on this and on reducing health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities. It builds on previous DH guidance and reflects the learning that has taken place since 2002 along with key recommendations of relevant recent reports and research.
Guidance Six lives: the provision of public services to people with learning disabilities (24th March 2009)An independent report, based on six investigations, published today by the Health Service Ombudsman and the Local Government Ombudsman reveals:
- Significant and distressing failures in service across health and social care;
- One person died as a consequence of public service failure. It is likely the death of another individual could have been avoided, had the care and treatment provided not fallen so far below the relevant standards.
- People with learning disabilities experienced prolonged suffering and poor care, and some of these failures were for disability related reasons;
- Some public bodies failed to live up to human rights principles, especially those of dignity and equality;
- Many organisations responded inadequately to the complaints made against them which left family members feeling drained and demoralised.
The Ombudsmen recommend that NHS bodies and councils urgently confront whether they have the correct systems and culture in place to protect individuals with learning disabilities from discrimination, in line with existing laws and guidance.
Report
Tackling Fuel Poverty (17th March 2009)Woking Borough Council recognises fuel poverty as a serious obstacle to the health and well-being of many households in the borough. Woking subsequently incorporated a target in their 'Climate Change Strategy' to: ‘Help 800 vulnerable residents to escape fuel poverty through income maximisation and better thermal efficiency, resulting in reduced bills.’ Woking has subsequently initiated a number of schemes to help meet this target.
Information LAC (DH) 2009 (2): The Mental Capacity Act 2005, resources available from the year 2009-2010 (24th March 2009)This Local Authority Circular sets out the resources available for the year 2009 -2010 for the Mental Capacity Act 2005, including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which come into effect on 1 April 2009. and provisional figures for 2010 - 2011.
Circular
Putting people first: working together with user-led organisations (24th March 2009)This document outlines the benefits that local organisations, and their residents, enjoy when they work with user-led organisations. These benefits range from helping local authorities deliver greater personalisation to improved engagement with hard-to-reach population groups.
It provides advice on how local authorities can form meaningful relationships with user-led organisations and outlines support provided by the Department of Health.
Finally, the document provides local authorities with a series of links to other resources with further information about user-led organisations.
Document
New Agency for a new era in mental health (17th March 2009)A new agency to ensure national mental health policies bring about real improvements for patients and carers will start work on 1 April, Care Services Minister Phil Hope announced today.
The new agency - the National Mental Health Development Unit - will succeed the current National Institute for Mental Health in England.
The change follows a review of mental health service delivery, taking into account Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review and the need for more personalised services. From April, the ten strategic health authorities will oversee much of the regional and local delivery of new mental health policies, with support from the new Development Unit.
Information New Roles Early Implementer Site Project. (March 2009)This report was commissioned to test out with willing Trusts the flexibilities in the Mental Health Act to develop new staff for the clinical roles of the Approved Mental Health Professional and the Approved Clinician. This report summarises the findings from the fields sites and highlights key messages drawn from their experience to date.
Report
Further Directions to Primary Care Trusts and NHS trusts in England, concerning arrangements for the funding of Technology Appraisal Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2009 (18th March 2009)NICE guidance - febuxostat for the management of hyperuricaemia in patients with gout.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published technology appraisal guidance relating to the use of febuxostat in the management of hyperuricaemia in patients with gout on 17th December. NICE's guidance recommends febuxostat for patients who are unable to take or are intolerant to the standard treatment, allopurinol. Since NICE published the final guidance, the manufacturer has informed NICE that it is temporarily unable to make the drug available. On the basis of advice from NICE, Ministers have therefore agreed to waive the direction requiring NHS organisations to make funding available for NICE recommended treatments within three months of final guidance for this appraisal. The funding direction will be reinstated once the drug is available.
Further Directions The Government's response to the Health Select Committee report: NHS Next Stage Review (12th March 2009)Response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee's report on the NHS Next Stage Review. It deals mainly with primary care trust commissioning, primary care provision, the quality agenda and the NHS Constitution.
Response Directions to primary care trusts and NHS trusts concerning decisions about drugs and other treatments 2009 (12th March 2009)These Directions clarify primary care trusts' responsibilities regarding local decision making about the funding of medicines and other treatments.
Directions Database State (March 2009)In recent years, the Government has built or extended many central databases that hold information on every aspect of our lives, from health and education to welfare, law–enforcement and tax. This ‘Transformational Government’ programme was supposed to make public services better or cheaper, but it has been repeatedly challenged by controversies over effectiveness, privacy, legality and cost.
The report assesses 46 databases across major government departments and finds that a quarter of the public sector databases reviewed are "illegal" and should be scrapped or redesigned.
Full Report
Executive Summary
Barrett's oesophagus - ablative therapy: scope consultation (13th March 2009)NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Barrett's oesophagus – ablative therapy for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to submit comments on the scope and may suggest clinical questions that could be answered in the guideline. Closing date for comments is 9th April 2009.
Consultation Core interventions in the treatment and management of schizophrenia in primary and secondary care - Clinical Guideline CG82 (25th March 2009)This clinical guideline updates and replaces:
- Schizophrenia: core interventions in the treatment and management of schizophrenia in primary and secondary care. NICE clinical guideline 1 (2002)
- Guidance on the use of newer (atypical) antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia. NICE technology appraisal guidance 43 (2002)
Clinical Guideline Rehabilitation after critical illness - Clinical Guideline CG83 (25th March 2009)The advice in the NICE guideline covers the care of:
- adults who, as a result of critical illness, have stayed in critical care and need rehabilitation.
It does not specifically look at the care of:
- adults who are having treatment for symptoms and pain in the final stages of a terminal illness
- adults whose rehabilitation needs are already routinely assessed and delivered as part of their care, for example, patients who have brief stays in critical care units for immediate postoperative care after major elective surgery, and patients with conditions for which published guidelines already exist – such as head injury, heart attack and stroke.
Clinical Guideline Sunitinib for the first-line treatment of advanced and/or metastatic renal cell carcinoma - Technology Appraisal TA169 (25th March 2009)Sunitinib is recommended as a possible first drug treatment for people with advanced and/or metastatic renal cell carcinoma if:
- immunotherapy (for example, interferon alfa) would be suitable for them and
- they are mobile and can do light housework or office work.
When assessing people with disabilities, healthcare professionals should bear in mind that a person’s disability might also affect their level of physical activity. They should make adjustments for this.
Technology Appraisal Guidance for primary care and employers on the management of long term sickness and incapacity - Public Health Guidance PH19 (25th March 2009)This guidance is for all those who manage long-term (or recurring short- or long-term) sickness absence and incapacity, including employers and people working in the NHS. It will also be of interest to workplace representatives and trades unions, employees and those receiving incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance (ESA).
Public Health Guidance Deep dermal injection of non-absorbable gel polymer for HIV-related facial lipoatrophy - Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG291 (25th March 2009)Facial lipoatrophy (facial wasting) is a loss of fat underneath the skin, often on the face. It can occur as a side effect of antiretroviral drug treatment for HIV. Gel polymers are water-based, man-made substances that are injected under the skin to re-contour the depleted areas.
Interventional Procedure Guidance Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease - Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG292 (25th March 2009)In patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, the acidic contents of the stomach are able to travel backwards into the gullet, causing a burning sensation or pain (heartburn). This endoscopic procedure uses electrically-generated heat to form a scar (radiofrequency ablation) in the lower end of the gullet with the aim of making it narrower, reducing the ability of the stomach contents to travel backwards (reflux).
Interventional Procedure Guidance Implantation of an opaque intraocular lens for intractable double vision - Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG293 (25th March 2009)Double vision (also known as diplopia) is seeing two images of a single object instead of one. In this procedure, the clear lens of one eye is removed and replaced with a non-transparent (opaque) lens. The aim is to block out one of the double images.
Interventional Procedure Guidance Percutaneous (non-thoracoscopic) epicardial catheter radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation - Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG294 (25th March 2009)Atrial fibrillation is a condition that affects the heart, causing an irregular heartbeat. It increases the risk of blood clots in the heart and stroke. Electrical impulses (originating from the atria, the small chambers of the heart) control the heartbeat. In atrial fibrillation these impulses become disorganised, so that the heart beats irregularly and too quickly. When this happens, the heart cannot efficiently pump blood around the body. This may cause symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness and fainting. In percutaneous (non-thoracoscopic) epicardial catheter radiofrequency ablation, selected areas of the heart are destroyed using heat, with the aim of preventing the abnormal electrical impulses responsible for atrial fibrillation. The procedure is carried out through a special catheter which is inserted into the lower chest area and guided to the outer part of the heart.
Interventional Procedure Guidance Percutaneous (non-thoracoscopic) epicardial catheter radiofrequency ablation for ventricular tachycardia - Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG295 (25th March 2009)Ventricular tachycardia is a condition that affects the heart, causing an irregular pulse. It occurs when the electrical impulses controlling the heartbeat become disorganised, so that the heart beats too fast. When this happens, the heart cannot efficiently pump blood around the body. This may cause symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness and fainting. Ventricular tachycardia increases the risk of cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating). In percutaneous (non-thoracoscopic) epicardial catheter radiofrequency ablation selected areas of the heart are destroyed using heat, with the aim of preventing the occurrence or conduction of abnormal electrical activity. The procedure is done through a special catheter which is inserted into the lower chest area and guided to the outside of the heart.
Interventional Procedure Guidance Photodynamic therapy for brain tumours - Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG290 (25th March 2009)Brain tumours may arise from brain tissue or spread from cancers in other parts of the body. Treatment usually consists of an operation to establish the nature of the tumour and, when possible, remove as much of it as seems safe. Photodynamic therapy (often abbreviated to PDT) has been developed as additional therapy (to enhance the effect of surgery) or as a treatment for tumours that are inoperable. Itinvolves giving the patient a drug that makes the tissue sensitive to light. A laser light source is used during the operation and in some cases for a few days afterwards to activate the light‑sensitive substance with the aim of destroying the tumour cells.
Interventional Procedure Guidance
Research ethics. RCN guidance for nurses (23rd March 2009)Many nurses are now undertaking research in a range of settings; therefore it is important to ensure that any research you are involved in is safe, robust and ethical. There are many different types of research: service evaluations, clinical trials or action research studies, but the ethical principles that should guide those involved remain constant. This updated guidance provides an introduction to these as well as providing nurses with an overview of recent developments in research ethics.
GuidanceMental health in children and young people: An RCN toolkit for nurses who are not mental health specialists (18th March 2009)One in 10 children and young people will experience behavioural, emotional and mental health problems at some point in their lives. However, identifying mental health problems and responding appropriately can prove challenging for nurses working with children and young people. The RCN has prepared this publication to assist those nurses who are not mental health specialists who work with children and young people in community and hospital settings. It will help them in identifying the skills and knowledge they need to recognise and, if necessary, refer children who have problems affecting their mental health.
Toolkit Defending Dignity - challenges and opportunities for nursing (March 2009)Underpinning the thinking behind the RCN's Dignity campaign is a survey, which took place over a three-week period from February 2008. Attracting more than 2,000 participants, the study explored the attitudes and experiences of RCN members about this crucial aspect of care. Amongst the survey’s significant findings are:
- more than eight out of 10 respondents say they always or sometimes feel upset or distressed because they are unable to give the dignified care they know they should
- 65 per cent say they sometimes or never have enough time to devote to the dignity of their patients or clients
- meanwhile more than 98 per cent say that the dignity of their patients and clients is important to them.
Respondents cite several issues that prevent dignified care being given. Looking at the physical environment, these include:
- overcrowded wards
- the layout of the clinical area
- the curtains around beds
- noisy and disruptive environments
- mixed sex wards.
Organisationally, these include:
- resources and staffing levels
- overwhelming paperwork
- targets and statistics
- a lack of leadership on this issue.
Report
Reduce the risk of cot death (2009 edition) (16th March 2009)This leaflet provides advice to parents on how to reduce the risk of cot death. Since parents and carers have been following the risk reduction advice, the number of babies dying has fallen by over 70%.
Leaflet
Code of conduct for Payment by Results: from 1 April 2009 (17th March 2009)This Code of Conduct (the Code) is aimed at all commissioners and providers, including those from the independent sector - and other bodies with regulatory and/or performance management responsibilities - operating within the PbR system, but without prejudice to any future Government decision on extending the scope of PbR. Its purpose is to estabish the principles that should govern organisational behaviour under PbR and set expectations as to how the system should operate. In this way, the Code of Conduct should minimise as well as guide the resolution of disputes under PbR.
Code of Conduct
Bicycles made for all (18th March 2009)Cycling through beautiful scenery is not only enjoyable it is good for you too. East Hampshire District Council and its partners have set up an innovative project to tempt people into the saddle. It is just one of a range of schemes aimed at encouraging local residents to get active.
Information A systematic review of the evidence base for developing a physical activity and health legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (16th March 2009)A team of experts from Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent were commissioned by the Department of Health, and partly funded by NHS London, to analyse the potential impact of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games on physical activity, sports participation and health. This report presents their conclusions.
Report
Ending Child Poverty: a manifesto for success (18th March 2009)This publication, from Child Poverty Action Group, is published on the 10th anniversary of the Government's pledge to eradicate child poverty in a generation. The summary and introduction to the manifesto include ten key steps needed to end child poverty and ten reasons to be angry about how children become trapped in poverty today.
Publication
National guidelines for the appointment of dentists with a special interest (DwSI) in special care dentistry (19th March 2009)Guidance to PCTs on the appointment of dentists with a special interest in special care dentistry including the competency framework for the scope of treatment that can be undertaken.
Guidance World Class Commissioning "League Table" (March 2009)The Health Service Journal has compiled and compared the results for all 152 Primary Care Trusts on World Class Commissioning. PCTs have made a solid start and 27 have led the way with green lights for strategy, board governance and finance.
News story
League Table Summary Care Record - Opting Out (March 2009)New guidance has been issued to NHS primary care trusts which are involved in introducing a Summary Care Record (SCR), making clear that patients do not need to appear in person in order to opt out of having an SCR created.
Guidance
EVENT - Behaviour change: from commissioning to practice (10th March 2009)These are the presentations from the above event that was held by ChaMPs at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington.
Presentations
Working together - public services on your side (March 2009)This document details the steps the Government is taking to give people, communities and frontline staff the information and real power they need to personalise public services. Reflecting their local and individual needs will create a richer, fairer and safer society.
Document
Smoking behaviour in North West school children: a study of fifteen and sixteen year olds (10th March 2009)Using a sample of 9,833 North West teenagers surveyed by Trading Standards North West, this report examines the relationship between smoking behaviours and demographics, income, parental smoking, leisure activities and alcohol consumption.
Report NHS Stop Smoking Services: service and monitoring guidance 2009/10 (24th March 2009)This document provides best practice guidance relevant to the provision of all NHS stop smoking interventions and sets out fundamental quality principles for the delivery of services which can be used to inform the development of local commissioning arrangements. It also includes full details of the data reporting requirements for NHS Stop Smoking Services.
Guidance
CSCI 2004-2009: Making social care better for people (11th March 2009)This report highlights the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) key achievements and describes some of the methods they have developed, such as:
- involving people who use services in all aspects of their work
- making regulatory information publicly available.
Report Funding adult social care in England (20th March 2009)The current system for funding adult social care in England has been criticised as unfair, complex and financially unsustainable. There are significant local variations in who is eligible for what kinds of support and a host of complicated local and national rules that apply to the funding of different elements of social care services.
In autumn 2007, the government announced its intention to reform the current system, and a Green Paper containing options for a new system for funding adult social care and support will be published in 2009. Teresa Poole sets out how adult social care is currently funded, outlines some of the main criticisms of the current arrangements and describes the types of changes the government might consider for its reform.
Briefing
Guidance on internal separation for SHAs to support business readiness in PCT provision (11th March 2009)As stated in the guidance, 'Enabling, new patterns of provision', DH have sent guidance to Strategic Health Authorities to help support Primary Care Trusts in internally separating their commissioning and provision functions, to help PCT Provided Services (PCTPS) become business ready; in order to provide high quality services in an environment of choice and contestability. This is the executive summary of the guidance.
Executive Summary
NDTMS Themed Report: AACCE Substance use in the Northwest of England (18th March 2009)Drug treatment services are currently dominated by individuals presenting for problems with heroin use. Whilst opiates are the most common drug of choice amongst those in treatment, there is evidence that non opiate AACCE (alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy) use is becoming increasingly evident amongst younger treatment users. The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) in the North West of England was used to analyse the demographic profile, referral sources in, and the exit status of, individuals in treatment stating AACCE substances to determine whether these clients were a distinct group when compared to opiate clients. Analysis of NDTMS revealed a growing distinct group of individuals who did not state opiates as a problematic drug. AACCE clients were significantly younger, referred via different referral routes and accessing different types of treatment to opiate clients.
Report
This bulletin highlights recently produced documents that have appeared on websites. The aim is to trawl the web and produce a fortnightly review of what is found (coverage may not be comprehensive). If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this Bulletin, please send an email to library.pct@sthk.nhs.uk. All links are correct at time of publishing. Some documents are large and may take time to open so please be patient when waiting for links to open. If a link is incorrect please email me and I will correct the link and send you the document.For those that are receiving this through an email or through a third party you can view the original Bulletin at http://www.newdocumentsbulletin.blogspot.com/ and also sign up to receive the Bulletin by RSS.
SUS (Secondary Uses Service) Pilots: Sharing the learning (February 2009)The SUS pilot and early adopter organisations have published emerging lessons as they go through the process of changing their systems to deliver a weekly submission of 18 week referral to treatment data to SUS to support the commissioning and sustained delivery of 18 weeks.
Document
Accidents and Child Development (February 2009)Every year, some two million children are seen at hospital Accident and Emergency Units after suffering an unintentional injury. Around 250 children die each year as the result of accidents. These stark facts give an indication of how great a challenge parents, carers and practitioners face in trying to keep children safe.
This guide addresses particular issues related to child safety and focuses on the actual experiences of field workers. Its aim is to share the experiences of practitioners with a wider audience so that effective interventions can be publicised, so that common pitfalls can be avoided.
Guide
ARTICLE - Alcohol Portrayal on Television Affects Actual Drinking Behaviour (4th March 2009)New research, published in Alcohol and Alcoholism, shows for the first time a causal link between exposure to drinking models and alcohol commercials on acute alcohol consumption. It showed that people who watched films and commercials in which alcohol drinking featured prominently consumed, on average, 1.5 glasses more alcohol than those who were watched films and commercials with no alcohol portrayl.
Article Alcohol Treatment in Cheshire and Merseyside 2007/08 (26th February 2009)This publication details the results from the Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System (ATMS) in Cheshire and Merseyside during 2007/08. The report provides information on the number and profile of individuals in contact with specialist alcohol treatment in Cheshire and Merseyside during 2007/08.
Report
NHS London Annual Report 2007/2008 (February 2009)This report notes key achievements and statistics as well as giving the annual report and accounts for NHS London
Annual Report
Ovarian cancer: key messages for health professionals (27th February 2009)Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer in women after lung, breast and bowel cancer. In the UK 6,800 women are diagnosed every year but, to put this in perspective, the average GP sees only one case of ovarian cancer every five years. This is an update to the Cancer NSF for ovarian cancer for health professionals. The update is split into 3 sections - Who is most at risk?; What you should do if you suspect ovarian cancer; and New evidence on symptoms to help you recognise ovarian cancer.
Update Cervical Screening factsheet - FAQs (20th February 2009)This fact sheet contains frequently asked questions about the NHS National Cervical Screening Programme.
Factsheet ARTICLE - Million Women Study shows even more moderate alcohol consumption associate with increased cancer risk (24th February 2009)According to this article from Cancer Research UK, women who regularly have one or two alcoholic drinks a day increase their risk of cancers of the breast, liver and rectum and in women who also smoked it increased the risk of cancers of the mouth and throat.
Article
Individual budgets pilot projects: impact and outcome for carers (26th February 2009)This research is one of two reports to inform development of personal and individual budgets. The first, published on 21 October 2008, examined the impact of individual budgets on service users. This report, published 26 February 2009, was commissioned by the Department of Health to examine the impacts on and outcomes for carers.
Report Options for care funding: What could be done now? (4th March 2009)Many experts, the public and the Government agree that the UK needs a new care funding system: evidence shows that the present system is unfair, unclear and unsustainable. This summary updates a Solutions produced in 2007, and suggests four costed, fairer and more sustainable methods of funding including:
- equity release, allowing older homeowners to pay for home-based care by deferring the costs until their home is sold;
- higher capital limits for care home fees to help those with modest assets;
- doubling the personal expenses allowance for people living in care homes supported by local authorities; and
- restructuring help for people in nursing homes, breaking down the barrier between health and social care.
Summary Supporting Carers to Care (26th February 2009)This report, from the National Audit Office, has found that although the majority of carers who receive benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are satisfied with the support they receive, at least a fifth have difficulties in applying for Carer's Allowance.
Report
