ABOUT THIS BULLETIN

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.

Due to annual leave the next edition of the bulletin will be published w/c 11th May 2008.

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 14 (10th April 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 15 (17th April 2009)

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Safe from Bullying (April 2009)
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has published a suite of guidance on preventing bullying outside schools that includes guidance on tackling bullying in various settings. The guidance builds on the existing advice on bullying in schools as set out in 'Safe To Learn'.
Safe from Bullying: guidance for local authorities and other strategic leaders on reducing bullying in the community
Safe from Bullying in further education colleges
Safe from Bullying: Training Resources
Safe from Bullying on journeys
Safe from Bullying in play and leisure provision
Safe from Bullying in Children's Homes
Safe from Bullying in youth activities
Safe from Bullying in extended services in and around schools

COMMISSIONING

Quality Care Service Standards for the healthcare of people who have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) (March 2009)
The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Standards Group has published the results of the second national audit of patients with IBD. Although many services have improved there is still a wide variation in the provision of care with many services having not improved at all.
Standards
Webpage

World Class Commissioning: Improving Pharmaceutical Services (8th April 2009)
This is a practical guide to support PCTs in commissioning pharmaceutical services.
Guide

CONSULTATION RESPONSE

The European Commission's proposals for a Directive on the application of patient's rights in cross-border healthcare - UK Government's response to consultation (20th April 2009)
Last autumn the Government conducted a public consultation to help inform the UK's negotiating position on a draft Directive from the European Commission on cross-border healthcare. This document provides an analysis of the submissions to the consultation and sets out the Government response to these.
Response

CONSULTATIONS

Environmental design principles for adult medium secure units (17th April 2009)
This draft document launches a consultation on revisions to previously medium secure environmental guidance (Design Guide 1993). Closing date for comments is 10th July 2009.
Consultation

The regulation of private hearing aid dispensers by the Health Professions Council: a paper for consultation (7th April 2009)
This draft order sets out a proposal to abolish the Hearing Aid Council and transfer its register of hearing aid dispensers to the Health Professions Council. Closing date for comments is 7th July 2009.
Consultation

Consultation on ordinary residence guidance, Directions and cross-border arrangements (21st April 2009)
This consultation document is seeking views on the revision of the Department of Health's guidance on the ordinary residence provisions in the National Assistance Act 1948 (current guidance is contained in LAC(93)7). It is also seeking views on draft Directions that set out local authority responsibilities when ordinary residence disputes arise and draft cross-border arrangements for dealing with ordinary residence disputes between English and Welsh authorities. Closing date for comments is 17th July 2009.
Consultation

DENTAL

Decontamination: Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices (9th April 2009)
This guidance has been produced to reflect a reasonable and rational response to emerging evidence around the effectiveness of decontamination in primary care dental practices, and the possibility of prion transmission through protein decontamination of dental instruments.
Guidance

DIABETES

Diabetes guide for London (30th March 2009)
Diabetes is a major health issue for London, costing the NHS about £3million per day and affecting more than 350,000 people. Healthcare for London have announced plans to ensure that everyone with diabetes in London receives world class care. The guide sets out a plan to transfor diabetes care in the capital over the next three years, improving the standard of care provided, saving lives and reducing disabilities.
Guide

Minding the gap. The provision of psychological support and care for people with diabetes in the UK (April 2009)
According to this report, from Diabetes UK, around 85% of adults with diabetes in the UK lack access to specialist psychological support and care. It forund that only 25% of diabetes services can name and supply contact details for people who provide specialist psychological care.

Report

Growing up with Diabetes: children and young people with diabetes in England (8th April 2009)
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has found that almost 23,000 children and young people have diabetes in England - a figure higher than previous estimates. This snapshot survey gives accurate numbers of children and young people under the age of 18 with diabetes of any type in England.
Report

DRUGS

Planning, commissioning and delivering the training and employment pathway for problem drug users. Developing practice for drug partnerships, Jobcentre Plus and drug treatment providers (Published January 2009 Updated April 2009)
This updated document, published by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA)has revised references to the referral pathway process in light of recent changes announced by Jobcentre Plus. It also incorporates information with regards to travel expenses to a treatment assessment, references to support available, and a Jobcentre Plus process map to clarify the voluntary referral pathway to a treatment assessment.
Document

Tackling Drugs Changing Lives - National Tackling Drugs Week 2009 Handbook (April 2009)
This handbook is designed to support local areas who are taking part in the week and is intended for (amongst others): Primary Care Trusts, Drug Action Teams (DATs) and Voluntary/third sector organisations.
Handbook

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

One Voice: Shaping our ageing society (7th April 2009)
This report from Age Concern and Help the Aged, the newly merged charity for older people, examines the issues facing older people in the UK: poverty, age discrimination, isolation and lack of care and support.
Report

END OF LIFE CARE

Planning for your future care - a guide (7th April 2009)
The National End of Life Care (EoLC) Programme has launched a basic patient guide on advance care planning. It explains in simple language the wide range of issues which can be covered through advance care planning as well as giving practical advice on how to develop written plans and decisions.
Guide

FINANCE

Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) (No. 2) Directions 2009 (7th April 2009)
The Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) (No. 2) Directions 2009 were signed on 24 March 2009 and are effective from 1 April 2009. These amending directions are the second in a series of three changes to be made to the Statement of Financial Entitlements published in April 2005.
Directions

GENERAL PRACTICE

Guidance to support elements of the GMS contract (March 2009)
NHS Employers and the General Practitioners Committee have published joint full guidance to support the following sections of the general medical services (GMS) contract
Quality and Outcomes Framework guidance for GMS contract 2009/10
Clinical directed enhanced services (DESs) for GMS contract 2008/09

Partners in Care - stories about NHS patients and their doctors (7th April 2009)
The strong relationship between doctor and patient is the cornerstone of the quality care of which the NHS is justifably proud. This publication, from British Medical Association (BMA) has true stories, told from the perspectives of 18 doctors and their patients.
Publication

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

Spasticity in adults: management using botulinum toxin. National Guidelines (April 2009)
Local intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin (BT) is an established treatment for spasticity, with strong evidence for its efficacy. The purpose of these guidelines, from the Royal College of Physicians, is to provide clinicians with the knowledge and tools to use BT effectively.
Guidelines

The Sunnyview University Hospital Trust quality report 2008-09 (7th April 2009)
This is an example of a quality report, prepared as part of the introduction of quality accounts, as proposed in Lord Darzi's report, High Quality care for all.
Guidance

HEALTHCARE

Fixing Healthcare: The Professionals' Perspective (March 2009)
The Economist Intelligence Unit conducted a global survey of healthcare professionals in four economies - the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany and India - between December 2008 and January 2009, about the issues they see as most urgent for their healthcare systems. This report, the first in a series of four, presents the findings of that survey.
Report

Fit for recovery (March 2009)
This report, from Reform, claims that the health sector has a sickness rate 50 per cent higher than in private firms and argues that incentivising individuals to get fit is more effective than relying on costly public health campaigns.
Report

The Government's response to the House of Lords European Committee Report Healthcare across EU borders: a safe framework (20th April 2009)
This command paper responds to the conclusions and recommendations of the House of Lords European Union Committee Report Healthcare across EU borders: a safe framework published 24th February 2009.
Response

INFECTIONS

Clostridium difficile infections continue to fall (16th April 2009)
Latest figures, released by the Health Protection Agency, show that cases of the healthcare associated infection Clostridium difficile are continuing to fall.
Information

Template Patient Leaflets on MRSA Screening (16th April 2009)
The NHS is now screening all relevant patients for MRSA before planned operations. This will help the NHS reduce the chances of patients getting an MRSA infection or passing MRSA onto another patient. These template patient leaflets have been developed to assist local areas in their patient communications around this topic.
Leaflets

LEADERSHIP

Developing NHS Leadership - the role of the trust medical director (2nd April 2009)
This is the second paper in the Future of leadership series. Based on seminars and interviews with current medical directors, this paper argues for clearer expectations of the role, increased support and more structured development opportunities.
Paper

LEARNING DISABILITIES

Valuing people now resource pack (8th April 2009)
Following a commitment made in Valuing People Now and the accompanying Delivery Plan, published in January, the Department of Health have released the Valuing People Now Resource Pack. This pack is intended to raise awareness of the issues and support good practice locally and across all sectors.
Resource Pack

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Joint strategic needs assessment (20th April 2009)
This is a new publication from the IDeA's Healthy Communities Programme. It highlights the variety of approaches taken across the country and the huge amount that has been achieved. It also states that much more needs to be done to ensure all areas use the JSNA process effectively to improve the health and wellbeing of their population and reduce inequalities.
Document

Intergenerational Demonstrator Programme: generations together (20th April 2009)
The Generations Together programme is seeking bids from all English local authorities with social services/children's service responsibilities to submit expressions of interest, in partnership with third sector organisations, for funding to develop demonstrator sites of intergenerational practice. It is a £5.5m programme which will run during 2009/10 and 2010/11.
Information

MENTAL HEALTH

In the face of fear. How fear and anxiety affect our health and society, and what we can do about it (16th April 2009)
This report, launched for Mental Health Action Week 2009, reveals a UK society that is increasingly fearful and anxious, backing the latest national statistics that show a long term increase in the rate of anxiety disorders in the general population.
Report

Living Well with Dementia - a National Dementia Strategy: demonstrator site programme (7th April 2009)
The National Dementia Strategy requires an improved evidence base about the effectiveness of two service models proposed:

• Objective 4 - enabling easy access to care, support and advice following diagnosis,
  

and

• Objective 5 - development of structured peer support and learning, and we are inviting applications for demonstrator sites for these two areas.

Publication

NHS

Promoting and embedding innovation. Learning from experience (7th April 2009)
In light of the new statutory duty to innovate, HSMC has been working with East Midlands Strategic Health Authority on a review of the evidence on planning implementing and embedding innovation within a health care setting. The review draws on evidence and examples of good practice from national and international literature and examines the range of innovation determinants highlighted in the literature. Finally, the review identifies a series of key message and recommendations for those seeking to innovate.
Report

Planning for the evacuation and sheltering of people in health sector settings: interim strategic national guidance (21st April 2009)
Best practice guidance that supports a general set of principles to guide all NHS organisations in developing plans to manage the evacuation and shelter of healthcare premises within the context of the NHS Emergency Planning Guidance 2005.
Guidance

Figures you can trust - briefing on data quality in the NHS (9th April 2009)
This briefing builds on the findings of the Audit Commission’s work on the Payment by Results data assurance framework and reviews the results of current data quality programmes. It also assesses how NHS trust and foundation trust boards assure themselves about the quality of their data. The research was carried out as part of the Commission’s national study of how boards get their assurance which they plan to publish in April 2009.
Briefing

NICE

Latest implementation tools (8th April 2009)
Tools to aid implementation of recently published guidance.

Schizophrenia (update): Costing Tool and Slide Set

Medicines Adherence: Audit Support, Guide to Resources and Patient Information Resource

Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis: Question and Answer Document

Dementia: Audit Support

Needle and syringe programmes: Costing Tool

Personality disorders - borderline: Audit Support

Critical illness rehabilitation: Joint Position Statement and Slide Set

Sunitinib for the first-line treatment of advanced and/or metastati renal cell carcinoma: Costing Tool and Audit Support

Managing long term sickness and incapacity: Costing Tool, Slide Set, Checklist for Managing Absence and Guide to Resources

Promotion of physical activity in children: Audit Support for schools, Audit Support for local authorities, Slide Set for schools, Slide Set for local authorities and local strategic partnerships

Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: Audit Support

Deep dermal injection of non-absorbable gel polymer for HIV related facial lipoatrophy: Audit Support

Lung cancer (non-small-cell, first line treatment) - pemetrexed: appraisal consultation (15th April 2009)
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 pemetrexed for the first-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 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 pemetrexed for the first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC. Closing date for comments is 6th May 2009.
Consultation

Spatial planning for health: draft scope consultation (16th April 2009)
NICE is developing public health programme guidance: Guidance for local authorities and primary care trusts on spatial planning. Closing date for comments is 15th May 2009.
Consultation

Promoting mental wellbeing at work: consultation on the draft guidance (20th April 2009)
Guidance for employers on promoting mental wellbeing through productive and healthy working conditions. Closing date for comments is 19th May 2009.
Consultation

Combined bony and soft tissue reconstruction for hip joint stabilisation in proximal focal femoral deficiciency (PFFD Interventional procedure guidance IPG297 (22nd April 2009)
Children are sometimes born with defects of the hip joint and upper thigh bone, called proximal femoral focal deficiency, often abbreviated to PFFD. Surgical treatment, aiming to produce as functional a leg as possible, may be appropriate. This may also involve a corrective operation on the hip joint (sometimes referred to as the ‘superhip' procedure). The initial operation may be combined with other surgery to lengthen the leg and treat other problems such as poor knee function at the same time or at a later date.
Guidance

Endoscopic mastectomy and endoscopic wide local excision for breast cancer Interventional procedure guidance IPG296 (22nd April 2009)
Treatment for early breast cancer usually involves surgery to remove all or part of the breast. In this keyhole procedure, part or all of the breast tissue is removed using special instruments inserted through small skin incisions. The skin envelope of the breast and nipple are left intact, ready for an implant that can be inserted during the same operation.
Guidance

Ex-vivo hepatic resection and reimplantation for liver cancer Interventional procedure guidance IPG298 (22nd April 2009)
The liver may be affected by cancer, either spreading from other parts of the body or developing from within the organ. In some patients, the tumour may develop in parts of the liver that are dangerous or impossible to treat with surgery, for example, when the tumour is very close to major veins that connect to the liver. This procedure involves removing the liver from the body, cutting away the diseased tissue, and reimplanting the remaining tumour-free liver into the patient.
Guidance

Management of acute diarrhoea and vomiting due to gastroenteritis in children under 5 Clinical guideline CG84 (22nd April 2009)
This guideline applies to children younger than 5 years who present to a healthcare professional for advice in any setting. It covers diagnosis, assessment of dehydration, fluid management, nutritional management and the role of antibiotics and other therapies. It provides recommendations on the advice to be given to parents and carers, and also considers when care should be escalated - from home management through to hospital admission.
The guideline will assume that prescribers will use a drug's summary of product characteristics to inform their decisions for individual patients.
Guidance

Glaucoma: diagnosis and management of chronic open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension Clinical guideline CG85 (22nd April 2009)
The advice in the NICE guideline covers the diagnosis, treatment and care of:

• adults (18 years and over) with a diagnosis of the condition known as 'chronic open angle glaucoma'
• adults with a diagnosis of ocular hypertension (raised eye pressure)
• adults who are at a high risk of developing glaucoma.

It does not specifically look at the treatment and care of:

• people under 18 years
• people with secondary glaucoma (glaucoma that is caused by other eye conditions, such as injury or inflammation)
• people with, or at risk of, types of glaucoma known as 'angle closure glaucoma (primary or secondary)' or acute glaucoma
• adults who have had glaucoma since birth or childhood.

Guidance

Rivaroxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism Technology appraisal TA170 (22nd April 2009)
This guidance is about when rivaroxaban should be used to reduce the risk of thromboembolism in adults who have surgery to replace their hip or knee joints in the NHS in England and Wales. It explains guidance (advice) from NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). It does not cover using rivaroxaban to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism in adults who have had other types of surgery. It is written for people who are having or have had an operation to replace their hip or knee joints but it may also be useful for their families or carers or anyone with an interestin the topic.
Guidance

OBESITY

Standard Evaluation Framework for weight management interventions (March 2009)
The aim of this Framework, from National Obesity Observatory, is to support high quality, consistent evaluation of weight management interventions in order to increase the evidence base.
Framework

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Children, Schools and Families Committee - Looked-after Children - Third Report of Session 2008-09 (20th April 2009)
Vol. I
Vol. II

Joint Committee on Human Rights - Legislative Scrutiny: Health Bill; Marine and Coastal Access Bill - Eleventh Report of Session 2008-09 (15th April 2009)

Joint Committee on Human Rights - UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Reservations and Interpretative Declaration - Twelfth Report of Session 2008-09 (17th April 2009)

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Sleep Simple, Sleep Safe: Five essentials to reduce the risk of cot death (20th April 2009)
This leaflet, from the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, highlights the only five essential products needed to reduce the risk of cot death.
Leaflet

PHARMACY

Practice Guidance: OTC Orlistat (20th April 2009)
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has today published guidance to support pharmacists providing the new over the counter (OTC) anti-obesity drug orlistat 60mg, following its reclassification from prescription-only medicine to pharmacy medicine.
Guidance

POVERTY

Child wellbeing and child poverty. Where the UK stands in the European table (21st April 2009)
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has published a briefing drawn from a new league table (produced by researchers from the University of York) of child wellbeing in European countries, in which the UK comes in 24th place out of 29 countries. The briefing also outlines the policies CPAG is calling for to end child poverty and improve child wellbeing in the UK.
Briefing

Cognitive testing: British Social Attitudes child poverty questions (April 2009)
This research explores the effectiveness of both existing and new questions on poverty, for use in the British Social Attitudes Survey. It considers among other things whether the public believe child poverty exists in Britatin today, what it is and who is responsible for tackling it.
Research

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

National immunoglobulin database update: April 2009 (8th April 2009)
A key component of the DH-initiated National Demand Management Programme for Immunoglobulin is the National Immunoglobulin Database. This update document describes initial findings from the Database on immunoglobulin prescribing patterns, gives information on the forthcoming Model Commissioning Policy for immunoglobulin and offers a summary of the updated guidance on the use of immunoglobulin for measles post-exposure prophylaxis, issued by the Health Protection Agency.
Document

Understanding health care markets. A PCT guide to market analysis and market management (8th April 2009)
The new NHS Constitution has at its centre the right of patients to choose. This choice is underpinned by competition between health care providers; competition that is intended to be a driving force for improved quality and efficiency. This guide is intended as a short introduction for PCTs to market analysis and market management.
Guide

Express LIFT: memorandum of information for PCTs (7th April 2009)
This memorandum of information has been written to support primary care trusts interested in the Express LIFT framework.
Document

Primary Care Trust accounts - A guide for non-executives 2008/09 update and original guide (8th April 2009)
In 2007, the HFMA and the Audit Commission published Primary Care Trust Accounts: A Guide for Non-executives. The guide was developed to help non-executive directors understand, draw conclusions and ask pertinent questions about a trust's accounts, and are a useful tool in getting to grips with the primary financial statements. An update to the guide has been produced in April 2009 to complement the original guides, describing the main changes to the accounts since publication and including additional questions for non-execs to assure themselves that the financial statements represent a true and fair view of the organisation's finances.
Guide

PRISONS/PRISON HEALTH

A guide for the management of dual diagnosis for prisons (9th April 2009)
Dual diagnosis, the co-existence of mental health and substance misuse problems, has a higher prevlaence in prisons than in the general community. This document provides good practice guidance to commissioners and practitioners on the management of dual diagnosis within a prison setting.
Guidance

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Guidance on funding excess treatment costs related to non-commercial research studies and applying for a subvention (7th April 2009)
This guidance for funding excess treatment costs and subventions clarifies the directions set out in HSG(97)32. It relates to non-commercial research studies eligible for entry onto the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Portfolio database or studies funded through the NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs), Biomedical Research Centre and Biomedical Research Unit funding schemes.
Guidance

STATISTICS

Affordable Housing Survey. A review of the quality of affordable housing in England (17th April 2009)

Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2008 to December 2008 (Quarter 3) (16th April 2008)

Investment in General Practice 2003/04 to 2007/08 England, Wales and Northern Ireland (16th April 2009)

Social Trends - No. 39 2009 Edition (15th April 2009)

Diagnostics waiting times and activity data: month ending 29 February 2009 (8th April 2009)

Direct access audiology waiting times, January 2009 (8th April 2009)

GP extended opening hours, March 2009 (15th April 2009)

Provisional Monthly Hospital Episode Statistics for Admitted patient care and outpatient data, April - December 2008/09 (8th April 2009)

Mental Health Minimum Dataset (MHMDS) Trust Analysis Data Quality Report - 2006/07 annual data (7th April 2009)

STROKE

Stroke-specific education framework (20th April 2009)
The overall purpose of the Stroke-Specific Education Framework (SSEF) is to create UK recognised quality assured and transferable standards for stroke training. It will also outline stroke-specific knowledge and skills which need to be added to ther generic skills that health, social, voluntary and independent care staff already possess. The Department of Health are now seeking comments on the Framework. Closing date for comments is 12th June 2009.
Framework

TRAVEL

International Travel and Health 2009 Edition (17th April 2009)
International Travel and Health provides guidance to medical and non-medical people on potential health risks for travellers and precautions to take. The new 2009 edition includes a chapter on psychological health, detailed maps of major infectious diseases and updated vaccine recommendations and schedules.
Guide

ABOUT THIS BULLETIN

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.

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Sexual Health Quarterly Bulletin March 2009 Edition (25th March 2009)

Health and Sustainability Fact Sheet 1: March 2009 (1st April 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 12 (27th March 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 13 (3rd April 2009)

CARE QUALITY COMMISSION

Care Quality Commission (1st April 2009)
This is the website of the new independent regulator of health and social care in England. The Care Quality Commission replaced:

• The Healthcare Commission
• Commission for Social Care Inspection
• Mental Health Act Commission

Website

Care Quality Commission Enforcement Policy (30th March 2009)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC)will have a wider range of powers than its predecessors to help it become a tough but fair regulator. As well as issueing warning notices and penalty notices, it is also able to suspend or cancel the registration of organisations who do not meet the essential standards of quality.
Policy

COMMISSIONING

Services for adults with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC): good practice advice for primary care trust and local authority commissioners (3rd April 2009)
This good practice guidance, for Primary Care Trusts and Local Authority Commissioners, is part of a programme of work to ensure that people with autistic spectrum conditions receive the right support to to live life independently.
Guidance

World class commissioning: Improving Pharmaceutical Services (2nd April 2009)
This practical guide is to support PCTs in commissioning pharmaceutical services.
Guide

You're Welcome quality criteria: Making health services young people friendly (2nd April 2007)
This quality criteria sets out principles that will help health services (including non-NHS provision) become young people friendly. it covers arreas to be considered by commissioners and providers of health services. Content is based on examples of effective local practice and this second edition includes a new section covering Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Document

You're Welcome quality criteria self-assessment toolkit (6th April 2009)
This toolkit has been designed to enable service providers and commissioners to see what to do to be "young people friendly" and more appropriate to the needs of young people as detailed in the quality criteria. The toolkit will help services rate their level of achievement in relation to the You're Welcome quality criteria and action plan for reviewing, maintaining or improving the level of services.
Toolkit

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Private and voluntary healthcare: Care Standards Act 2000: Regulations and National Minimum Standards - consultation response (30th March 2009)
This is the response to the consultation that the Department of Health held from 18th March 2008 to 10th June 2008 to ensure that the private and voluntary healthcare sector is regulated effectively during the run-up to wider changes to the regulatory framework.
Consultation Response

Framework of competencies for recognising and responding to acutely ill patients in hospital: consultation report (25th March 2009)
This is a summary of responses to the consultation, Framework of Competencies for recognising and responding to acutely ill patients in hospital that was held from 25th March 2008 to 17th June 2008.
Consultation Response

Proposed new arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances - and related services in primary care (June 2008): consultation response (31st March 2009)
The consultation, Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances - and related services - in primary care was held from 9th June 2008 to 9th September 2008. The summary of responses to the consultation are now available along with an overview of the new arrangements.
Consultation responses

CONSULTATIONS

Response to consultation on the framework for the registration of health and adult social care providers and consultation on draft regulations (30th March 2009)
This document serves two main purposes:

• it provides the Government's response to the consultation the Department of Health held during spring 2008: The future regulation of health and adult social care in England: a consultation on the framework for the regulation of health and adult social care, on the new registration framework to be introduced from 2010; and
• it launches a consultation on the wording of the draft Regulations on the scope of registration and the registration requirements that we are planning to set before Parliament this year under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Closing date for comments is 29th May 2009.
Consultation

The regulation of private hearing aid dispensers by the Health Professions Council: a paper for consultation (7th April 2009)
This draft order sets out a proposal to abolish the Hearing Aid Council and transfer its register of hearing aid dispensers to the Health Professions Council Closing date for comments is 7th July 2009.
Consultation

End of life treatment and care: good practice in decision-making. A draft for consultation (27th March 2009)
This consultation, launched by the General Medical Council (GMC), is intended for doctors but may also help patients and the public, and other health and social care staff, to understand what they can expect from doctors involved in caring for patients who are dying. Closing date for comments is 13th July 2009.
Consultation

DENTAL

General Dental Services Statement of Financial Entitlements and Personal Dental Services Statement of Financial Entitlements 2009 (1st April 2009)
News GDS and PDS Statements of Financial Entitlements including uplift to 2009-2010 prices, have now been published and will supersede the current versions with effect from 1st April 2009.
Documents

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

Healthcare delivery models for prevention of CVD (26th March 2009)
This report, from the Health Foundation, presents international evidence about how services might best prevent cardiovascular disease for commissioners and providers of health services.
Report

NHS Health Check: Vascular Risk Assessment and Management Best Practice Guidance (3rd April 2009)
To support Primary Care Trusts in their implementation of the vascular risk assessment and management programme this document provides best practice guidance and will help to ensure consistency across England.
Guidance

DRUGS

A report on Global illicit Drug Markets 1998-2007 (March 2009)
The findings in this report, from the European Commission, are that the worlds drugs problem are more or less the same as they were in 1998. The study found that there is no evidence that the global drug problem has been reduced during this 10 year period and although it may have improved a little in some of the wealthier countries, for some of those in the developing countries it has substantially worsened.
Report

Psychosocial Interventions for Drug Misuse. A framework and toolkit for implementing NICE recommended treatment interventions (March 2009)
This document, produced by The British Psychological Society and commissioned by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA), is to provide support for drug treatment commissioners and providers who wish to develop or introduce evidence-based psychosocial interventions for those with drug misuse problems.

Document

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Scoping review of the research and evidence base relating to advocacy services and older people's entry into care homes in England (31st March 2009)
The purpose of this review is to scope the literature on advocacy in relation to the decision to enter a care home on a long-term or permanent basis. The review seeks to inform planned work on the development of independent advocacy services being considered as part of the Independent Living Review by the Office for Disability Issues.
Report

FINANCE

The Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) (No 3) Directions 2009 (3rd April 2009)
These directions are the first in a series of three changes to be made to the Statement of Financial Entitlements published in April 2005 and are effective from 1st April 2009.
Directions

Guidance on managing variations to PFI schemes (25th March 2009)
The Department of Health have published two guidance notes on managing variations to PFI schemes. The first is concerned primarily with the business case process, the second complements this with the technical and practical issues.
Guidance

GENERAL PRACTICE

RCGP Guide to the Revalidation of General Practitioners (1st April 2009)
This guide from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) sets out for the first time the RCGPs current proposals for the processes and evidence that will be required in order for GPs to be revalidated.
Guide

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Only Connect. Policy options for integrating health and social care (April 2009)
This briefing paper, from Chris Ham for The Nuffield Trust, summarises the discussions that took place at seminars held by the Nuffield Trust to explore the issues involved in achieving closer integration of health and social care.
Briefing Paper

HEALTH CHECKS

NHS Health Check resources for NHS staff (3rd April 2009)
The Department of Health has made available an invitation letter template available to download for staff to send out when inviting the public for a Health Check. Also available is a leaflet giving information about the Health Checks.
Information

HEALTHCARE COMMISSION

Listening,learning, working together? A national study of how well healthcare organisations engage local people in planning and improving their services (26th March 2009)
According to this report from the Healthcare Commission, NHS trusts are increasing their efforts to listen to patients and the public, but now must go the next step to ensure these views are used to bring about change and improvement.
Report
Briefing
Practice Briefing
Easy Read Version

Tackling the Challenge. Promoting race equality in the NHS in England (30th March 2009)
This report looks at the extent to which the NHS in England is meeting the legal basic building blocks in promoting race equality.
Report

Adult specialist community mental health services. Report of the follow-up to the 2005/06 review (30th March 2009)
This is the report of the Healthcare Commission's follow-up review. The findings show that although progress made by many of the trusts is encouraging, they only show modest improvements in a number os aspects of the services. The recommendations are that all mental health providers look at their performance in this follow-up review and to work on the areas where either performance has deteriorated or shows the need for greater improvement.
Review

Equality in later life. A national study of older people's mental health services (31st March 2009)
This study focused on four themes:

• Age discrimination
• Quality of inpatient care
• How comprehensive are services?
• Working with other organisations

Although this study shows evidence of some good practice, it also shows that mental health services for the over 65's are in need of urgent attention.
Study

Care Quality Commission (1st April 2009)
This is the website of the new independent regulator of health and social care in England. The Care Quality Commission replaced:

• The Healthcare Commission
• Commission for Social Care Inspection
• Mental Health Act Commission

Website

HIV/AIDS

New HIV Diagnoses (27th March 2009)
According to the latest figures from the Health Protection Agency, an estimated 7,370 new HIV diagnoses were made in the UK in 2008 with 38% of all new diagnoses probably acquired through sex between men.
Information

IMMUNISATION

Vaccination Programme Directions 2009 (1st April 2009)
These directions relate to the new right, established in the NHS Constitution, to receive vaccinations recommended by the Joint Committee on vaccination and Immunisation under an NHS provided national immunisation programme.
Directions

PL CMO (2009)1, PL CNO (2009)1, PL CPHO (2009)1: the influenza immunisation programme 2009/10 (6th April 2009)
This 16 page letter from the Chief Medical Office, the Chief Nursing Officer and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer contains details of the annual influenza immunisation campaign and the poultry worker immunisation programme.
Letter

INFANT FEEDING

EVENT - Breastfeeding in the community (30th March 2009)
These are the presentations from the Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Network (ChaMPs) event that was held on 30th March 2009 at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes.
Programme
Paula Simpson - Unicef Community babyfriendly
Kate McFadden - Peer Support Training
John Shepherd - Social Marketing Research

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Charging for residential care: 2009 uprating of certain disregards and allowances, and other changes (6th April 2009)
Changes to the residential regulations came into force from 6th April 2009. S.I. 2009/597 uprates certain items in accordance with established formulae and the upratings are:

• Personal Expenses Allowance increased from £21.15 to £21.90
• Lower capital limit increased from £13,500 to £14,000
• Upper capital limit increased from £22,250 to £23,000
• Single person's savings disregard increased from £5.34 to £5.65
• Couple's savings disregard increased from £8.15 to £8.45

Guidance

LAC (DH)(2009)3: Charges for Residential Accommodation - CRAG Amendment No 28 (6th April 2009)
This circular announces the main changes to the residential charging arrangements and provides clarification of certain policies, in particular with regard self-funding care home residents entitlement to the 12 week property disregard and the responsibility of local authorities to offer deferred payments to qualifying residents.
Circular

LONG-TERM CONDITIONS

Your health, your way - a guide to long term conditions and self care (7th April 2009)
This booklet introduces the concept of personalised care planning for people with long-term conditions and supported self care with points for consideration when starting the care planning process. It also gives a brief overview of Your health, your way for healthcare professionals.
Booklet

MATERNITY/MIDWIFERY

Protection of pregnant patients during diagnostic medical exposures to ionising radiation RCE9 (31st March 2009)
This guidance, published by the Health Protection Agency, The Royal College of Radiologists and the College of Radiographers, recommends that pregnant women should not be given ionising radiation examinations in which the foetus receives a dose of more than a few milligrays as there is a small increased risk of causing childhood cancer. If examinations are clinically justified then although there is still the small risk of childhood cancer a termination of pregnancy would not be necessary.
Guidance

MENTAL HEALTH

Arrangements under paragraph 183(4) of Schedule A1 to the Mental Capacity Act 005 between the Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers (1st April 2009)
These arrangements set out, that where questions about a person's ordinary residence arise in relations to which local authority should act as the supervisory body, the Secretary of State will determine cross-border ordinary residence disputes between England and Wales where the person to whom the dispute relates is accommodated in a care home in England.
Guidance

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and you (31st March 2009)
Hospitals, care homes, local authorities and Primary Care Trusts have a statutory duty under Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (MCA DOLS) legislation to make sure that the person made subject to the authorisation and assessment process is supported to understand what is happening to them. This information, from the Department of Health, is for the relevant person and should be distributed at the provider's discretion.
Documents

A Missed Opportunity? (26th March 2009)
This report, by Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, shows that few people are given a Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) by the courts because it is poorly understood and is prone to long delays. The MHTR is one of 12 possible requirements for all people given a community sentence in England and Wales, although it is rarely used in practice.
Report

NHS

Healthcare travel costs scheme: instructions and guidance for the NHS (1st April 2009)
From 1st April 2009, provider trusts will no longer be reimbursed for Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) costs through the Payment by Results (PbR) tariff. HTCS expenditure should be recharged to the Primary Care Trust where the patient is ordinarily resident.
Guidance

Health Technical Memoranda Firecode 05-03 (1st April 2009)
Firecode conists of a number of Health Technical Memoranda (HTM) which consider policy, technical guidance and specialist aspects of fire precautions. Previously issued Fire Practice Notes (FPN) have been superseded and subsumed into HTMs.
HTM 05-03: Part A - Executive Summary of General Fire Safety
HTM 05-03: Part D 2nd Edition - Executive Summary of Commercial Enterprise on Healthcare Premises
HTM 05-03: Part F - Executive Summary of Arson Prevention in NHS Premises
HTM 05-03: Part K - Executive Summary of Fire Risk Assessments in Complex Healthcare Premises
Previous HTMs

NICE

Leukaemia (chronic lymphocytic, first line) - rituximab: appraisal consultation (26th March 2009)
The Department of Health asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a single technology appraisal (STA) of rituximab for the first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia 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 rituximab. Closing date for comments is 20th April 2009.
Consultation

Hip fracture: draft scope consultation (1st April 2009)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on the management of femoral neck fractures 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. Closing date for comments is 29th April 2009.
Consultation

Stable angina: draft scope consultation (2nd April 2009)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on the stable angina 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. Closing date for comments is 30th April 2009.
Consultation

Weight management following childbirth: draft scope consultation (6th April 2009)
NICE is developing public health intervention guidance for weight management following childbirth. Closing date for comments is 11th May 2009.
Consultation

OBESITY

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: Child weight management programme and training providers framework (2nd April 2009)
This framework agreement was developed by the Cross Government Obesity Unit with nine provider organisations, in order to support local commissioning of weight management services for children and young people.
Framework

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: One Year On (April 2009)
This document sets out the Government's progress to date and also the areas they need to focus on over the next year.
Report

OPHTHALMOLOGY

The General Ophthalmic Services Contracts (Payments) (No 4) Directions 2009, Directions under the National Health Service Act 1977 Schedule 12, paragraph 2 (1) and the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997, regulation 2 (1), and Directions under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 Schedule 2 Paragraph 6 (2) (31st March 2009)
These Directions are made in respect of increases to NHS sight test fees and optical voucher values from 1st April 2009.
Directions

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic flu guidance for businesses: risk assessment in the occupational setting (27th March 2009)
This booklet explains how businesses can help reduce the spread of flu in the event of a pandemic.
Booklet

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Guide to NHS dental services in England (2nd April 2009)
This guide provides information about how to get NHS dental treatment in England.
Guide

Transgender experiences: information and support (30th March 2009)
This leaflet has been produced to help trans people and their families understand about the experiences of trans people, their rights and their choices. It also helps healthcare staff to understand about their role when caring for trans people.
Leaflet

PHARMACY

Practice Guidance - Diagnostic Testing and Screening Services (24th March 2009)
This guidance, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, covers ten Principles of Good Practice that should be taken into consideration when setting up and providing diagnostic/screening services.
Guidance

Counterfeit medicines for healthcare professionals (24th March 2009)
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) say that as the amount of counterfeit medicine being sold online and through other sources grows it is increasing the risk to the publics' health. This guidance is for guidance for pharmacists and dispensing doctors.
Guidance