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.
The Impact of Alcohol in: Greater Manchester, fourth quarter May 2009 (6th July 2009)This report identifies available alcohol intelligence from across Greater Manchester. The data are separated into six categories: consumption, health related impacts of alcohol, crime, young people, and examples of interventions to tackle excessive alcohol consumption.
Report
Cancer Incidence and Survival By Major Ethnic Group, England, 2002-2006 (25th June 2009)The National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) and Cancer Research UK has today (Thursday) published the first report on cancer incidence and ethnicity. According to the report, black people were nearly twice as likely as white people to get stomach cancer. And black men were up to three times more likely than white men to get prostate cancer.
The report will help to shape policy on targeting relevant public health messages to the ethnic communities around the signs and symptoms of cancer.
Report
Promoting the Health of Looked After Children - A Study to Inform Revision of the 2002 Guidance (25th June 2009)The overall purpose of this research was to provide evidence to assist Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health in revising the guidance on improving the health of looked after children (LAC).
The study took a multi-method approach and included 50 individual interviews with key stakeholders at national, regional and local level; an overview of relevant research and statistics; written comments from professionals engaged in implementing the guidance; and an analysis of information in Joint Area Reviews relevant to the health of looked after children.
Report
Recognising complexity: commissioning guidance for personality disorder services (2nd July 2009)Guidance for commissioners in the NHS, criminal justice system, local authorities and others, which provides information and suggestions on best practice when considering services and systems for people with personality disorders.
Guidance PBC two years on. Moving forward and making a difference? (1st July 2009)In 2007, a straw poll of GPs and practice managers by The King’s Fund and NHS Alliance found that primary care trusts (PCTs) were struggling to put in place the basic building blocks of practice-based commissioning (PBC). Two years on, has PBC moved forward and is it making a difference to patient care? A new poll has found continuing commitment to PBC and optimism about its potential but progress is still hampered by a lack of local vision, a lack of clarity over roles and responsibilities and bureaucratic governance processes. Moving into an era of restricted financial resources, it will become increasingly important for PCTs and practices to work together. Real clinician engagement – underpinned by locally developed visions, structures, agreements and lines of accountability – is key to the development of effective partnership working.
Document Primary Care and Community Services: improving GP access and responsiveness (7th July 2009)Part of the world class commissioning suite of practical guides, this document builds on existing good practice within the NHS to support PCTs in improving the accessibility and responsiveness of local GP services.
Guidance
Guide to world-class commissioning competency 5 (June 2009)A guide to improving performance on world-class commissioning competency 5 is now available. Sponsored by the NHS Information Centre and supported by the Department of Health, the guide includes facts about PCT performance on competency 5 in last year's assessment round and best practice profiles of the PCTs who performed best on the competency.
With its focus on knowledge management and needs assessment, competency 5 underpins all 11 competencies within world-class commissioning and is the one primary care trusts need to master to deliver high quality services for local people.
Guide
Standing together: Principles to reduce children and young people's involvement in gun and knife crime (7th July 2009)This report, from the Childreen's Commissioner, brings forward the views of children and young people on gun and knife crime.
The report sets out 10 key principles and explores risk factors, parenting support, education, support for victims and their relatives and friends, interventions and sentencing.
Report
Film
Transforming Community Services Quality Framework: guidance for community services (24th June 2009)This guidance sets out how the seven elements of the Quality Framework apply in community services. It includes a set of proposed indicators of quality that will be developed and assured for publication. The Department will be seeking views from interested stakeholders on these indicators.
Guidance Transforming Community Services: ambition, action, achievement (24th June 2009)These best practice guides have a vital role to play in the delivery of the intentions for High Quality Care for All: the Next Stage Review. They set out ambitions, taking action and measurement of the achievement and link with, should be read in conjunction with the quality framework/quality indicators.
Guides
Auditors Local Evaluation (ALE) 2009/10 (6th July 2009)The Auditor's Local Evaluation (ALE) assesses how well NHS organisations manage and use their financial resources and highlights areas for improvement.
The Audit Commission have launched a consultation on the ALE for NHS trusts framework for 2009/10. They propose to make the ALE approach more risk based and to carry out less work on ALE at the best performing trusts. Closing date for comments is 4th September 2009.
Consultation Consultation on the first phase of the Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England Post 2010 (Marmot Review) (22nd June 2009)The Review wishes to consult a wide range of Individuals, Groups and Organisations. The views drawn from the consultation will inform the ongoing work of the Review and feed into the second phase of the Review, due to report in September 2009. Responses to the consultation will be considered alongside further evidence and expert and stakeholder views. Closing date for comments is 5th August 2009.
Consultation
Evaluation of the Phase 2 Snack Right Social Marketing Project – Final Report (25th June 2009)The Cheshire and Merseyside Directors of Public Health decided in 2005 to focus on a single social marketing intervention on food.
The aims of this project were:- to improve the nutritional quality of snacks given to pre-school children in deprived areas of Cheshire and Merseyside
- to gain experience and build capacity in social marketing throughout Cheshire and Merseyside;
- to put marketing theory into practice on a Cheshire and Merseyside footprint
- to disseminate the learning in social marketing.
Thank you to the author, Lyn Winters, for forwarding this document to me for inclusion.Report
Keeping Cool in a heatwave (4th June 2009)Summer is usually enjoyable but very high temperatures and humidity can present a risk to health‚ and older people are particularly susceptible to heat-related illness.
This guide explains:
- how to protect yourself from the heat
- how to recognise heat-related illness‚ and what to do when someone shows signs of it.
Guide
End of life care strategy: quality markers and measures for end of life care (30th June 2009)The end of life care strategy published in July 2008 included a commitment to publish quality markers for end of life care.
This was a response to the SHA Pathway Chairs for the NHS Next Stage Review, who identified the need for a national approach in order to raise the quality of care for people at the end of life. The SHA Pathway Chairs helped produce the consultation draft which was published in November 2008. This publication reflects the comments the Department of Health received through the consultation.
Guidance Common core competences and principles for health and social care workers working with adults at the end of life. To support the National End of Life Care Strategy (26th June 2009)The National End of Life Care Programme has worked with Skills for Health and Skills for Care to outline the core skills and knowledge that will allow staff across health and social care to respond with confidence to one of the most challenging areas of care.
Common core competences and principles for health and social care workers working with adults at the end of life outlines the principles that underpin quality end of life care. The document is a guide to the core skills and knowledge that will equip you to play your part in the delivery of high quality end of life care.
Document
Learning disabilities directed enhanced services (DES) (24th June 2009)This new paper, from Primary Care Commissioning, provides four examples using different possible scenarios of how payments for the learning disabilities directed enhanced service should be calculated.
Paper
Multi-agency practice guidelines: Handling Cases of Forced Marriage (2nd July 2009)The Forced Marriage Unit has published a revised set of multi-agency practice guidelines for frontline professionals (such as teachers, police officers, social and health care professionals, housing officers) to help them to work more closely together and to better identify and protect children and adults at risk of forced marriage. The revised guidelines replace the existing individual guidelines which were tailored for specific professionals and now brings these together into one single document.
Guidelines Forced Marriage - Prevalence and Service Response (2nd July 2009)This research sought to improve understanding of the prevalence of forced marriage and to examine the way services are currently responding to such cases.
Report
Heart to Heart: Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions Services. A Needs Assessment and Service Review (July 2009)This new report from the Foundation for Genomics and Population Health (PHG Foundation), provides an overview of current service provision and an assessment of needs for patients and families affected by inherited cardiac conditions in the UK.
Report
Summary
Acute Kidney Injury: Adding Insult to Injury (June 2009)This National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) report highlights the process of care of patients who died in hospital with a primary diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). It takes a critical look at areas where the care of patients might have been improved. Remediable factors have been identified in the clinical and the organisational care of these patients.
Report
Ground breaking - new ideas on housing delivery (7th July 2009)The double blow of the credit crunch and recession has hit the housing market hard and resulted in a severe reduction in the number of new homes being built. Given the current level of housing need, projected future demand for homes, and pressure on public finances, we could be feeling the impact of this slowdown for generations to come. Shelter, like many in the housing sector, believes that we must act now to reinvigorate housing delivery to ensure the continued supply of much needed new homes throughout the downturn and beyond.
Publication
Launch of the new cross-Government employment strategy for people with learning disabilities: Valuing Employment Now - real jobs for people with learning disabilities (24th June 2009)The Government launched Valuing Employment Now - real jobs for people with learning disabilities. This sets out an ambitious goal to increase radically the number of people with learning disabilities in employment by 2025. The Government wants as many as possible of these jobs to be at least 16 hours per week. The strategy includes action to raise expectations throughout the system that all people with learning disabilities can and should have the chance to work: from birth and early years through education, among health and social care staff, local authorities, employment agencies, employers, and people with learning disabilities themselves and their families."
Strategy
Knowing your Communities (6th July 2009)The Knowing Your Communities Toolkit helps organisations assess their current performance and understand what they need to do to improve.
Covering nine themes (community engagement, disability, gender, human rights, older people, race, religion, sexual orientation and young people), they provide clear examples of improved outcomes. Supported by case studies of notable practice and links to other web-based resources, the tools give a high level overview of current progress and potential next steps.
Toolkit
Death of the Smoking Den: The initial impact of no smoking legislation in England in 2008 (22nd June 2009)A survey has uncovered widespread problems with the implementation of the smoking ban in psychiatric units in England. The survey, published by the Mental Health Foundation, shows that 85% of respondents said that the ban had been implemented only partially, or not at all, effectively.
The survey recommends that the National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU) leads on gathering and disseminating good practice from successul units, as well as calling for a formal review of the impact of the ban by the Department of Health.
SurveyTaking a deep breath: the mental health implications of anti-smoking legislation in July 2007 (22nd June 2009)The evidence examined in this report shows that care is needed to ensure that the smoking ban brings opportunities for people with mental health problems to give up smoking. It also shows that careful monitoring is needed to ensure that imposition of the ban does not cause unnecessary distress and harm in in-patient settings.
Report Florid (30th June 2009)Florid is a website run by mental health service users for people who have experienced mental health difficulties. It’s a website which aims to bring together information relating to mental health in a way that is user-friendly and simple.
Website
Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Report 2007 (June 2009)This latest report from the Confidential Enquirty into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) show improvements in the stillbirth and neonatal death rates in the UK. The main findings are:
- For the first time since 2000, a significant fall in the stillbirth rate from 5.7 per births in 2002 – 2004 to 5.2 per 1, 000 births in 2007.
- The lowest neonatal death rate since 2000 (3.3 per 1, 000 live births).
- Similar improvements in the stillbirth and neonatal death rates among twins.
- A higher proportion of post mortem examinations being offered for stillbirths neonatal deaths compared to previous years, although this has been offset by higher proportion of parents/guardians refusing to have an examination. Information obtained from a post mortem examination can contribute to understanding the possible cause of a perinatal death which may help to inform future care.
Report
Government's Response to the Health Select Committee Report on Top-up fees (6th July 2009)This Command Paper sets out the Government's response to the conclusions and recommendations made by the House of Commons Select Committee report on Top-ups which was published on 12 May 2009.
The Government welcomes the Committee’s conclusion that Professor Richards’ recommendations on additional private care are the best option for the NHS.
Response Understanding personal health budgets (2nd July 2009)Further to the commitment made in High Quality Care for All to pilot personal health budgets, and the publication in January 2009 of Personal Health Budgets: First Steps, which set out the principles of personal health budgets and invited expressions of interest in the pilot programme, we have now published Understanding Personal Budgets. This leaflet is designed primarily so that organisations involved in developing personal health budgets, whether in a statutory or support role, will have consistent, accessible information to give to people who might be interested in having a personal health budget. It introduces the idea of a personal health budget and provides details of where to obtain further information. An easy read version of the leaflet will also be available.
Leaflet A year of progress towards High Quality Care for All (30th June 2009)Lord Darzi has today published his report High Quality Care for All: Our Journey So Far, which examines the progress that has been made since High Quality Care for All was published a year ago. Across each dimension of quality - patient experience, patient safety and clinical effectiveness - Lord Darzi has found that there has been real progress with patients already seeing the difference.
Report
Soft tissue sarcoma - trabectedin: appraisal consultation (29th June 2009)The Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce guidance on using trabectedin in the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has considered the evidence submitted by the manufacturer and the views of non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and clinical specialists and patient experts. Closing date for comments is 21st July 2009.
ConsultationPreventing unintentional road injuries among under 15s: road design - evidence consultation (30th June 2009)NICE was asked by the Department of Health (DH) to develop ‘Produce guidance on public health interventions to reduce accidental injuries to persons under the age of 15 on the road’. All registered stakeholders are now invited to comment on the evidence that has been assembled to inform the development of this guidance. This evidence will be used by the Public Health Interventions Advisory Committee (PHIAC) to develop draft recommendations. The evidence comprises a review of effectiveness and cost effectiveness, a review of qualitative evidence and an economic analysis. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2009.
ConsultationPercutaneous intradiscal electrothermal therapy for low back pain (interventional procedures second consultation) (30th June 2009)The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is examining percutaneous intradiscal electrothermal therapy for low back pain and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NICE’s Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about percutaneous intradiscal electrothermal therapy for low back pain. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2009.
ConsultationBronchoscopic lung volume reduction with an airway valve for advanced emphysema (interventional procedures consultation) (30th June 2009)The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is examining bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with airway valves for advanced emphysema and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NICE’s Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with airway valves for advanced emphysema.
This document summarises the procedure and sets out the provisional recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2009.
ConsultationNegative pressure wound therapy for the abdomen (interventional procedures consultation) (30th June 2009)The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is examining negative pressure wound therapy for the open abdomen and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NICE’s Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about negative pressure wound therapy for the open abdomen.
This document summarises the procedure and sets out the provisional recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2009.
ConsultationPhotochemical corneal collagen cross-linkage using riboflavin and ultraviolet A for keratoconus (interventional procedures consultation) (30th June 2009)The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is examining photochemical corneal collagen cross-linkage using riboflavin and ultraviolet A for keratoconus and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NICE’s Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about photochemical corneal collagen cross-linkage using riboflavin and ultraviolet A for keratoconus.
This document summarises the procedure and sets out the provisional recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2009.
ConsultationLateral (including extreme, extra and direct lateral) interbody fusion in the lumbar spine (interventional procedures consultation) (30th June 2009)The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is examining lateral interbody fusion in the lumbar spine and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NICE’s Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about lateral interbody spinal fusion in the lumbar spine.
This document summarises the procedure and sets out the provisional recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2009.
ConsultationAcute coronary syndromes: draft guide consultation (3rd July 2009)A clinical practice guideline on Acute coronary syndromes is being developed for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to comment on the provisional recommendations. Closing date for comments is 28th August 2009.
Consultation Corneal endothelial transplantation: Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG304 (24th June 2009)Some diseases can effect the clear section at the front of the eye (the cornea), and in particular the layers that help maintain its clarity (the endothelium). This procedure aims to replace only the innermost layers of the cornea with a healthy section from a donor eye without disturbing the overall structure of the cornea.
Guidance
The nature, scope and value of ophthalmic nursing (2nd July 2009)This third edition from the RCN Ophthalmic Nursing Forum represents the strategic vision of ophthalmic nursing. It has been revised to reflect the current climate of clinical ophthalmic nursing care delivery. The document discusses the fundamental nature of ophthalmic nursing, asks how ophthalmic nurses can contribute to health care and looks at the value of the role. It also includes standards which are based on current empirical evidence, an audit tool and useful reading lists.
Document Competences: an education and training framework for paediatric dermatological nursing (6th July 2009)Skin disorders are common in children and young people and many of them will be cared for entirely in primary care, including through out of hours services, walk-in clinics and GP surgeries. Health care professionals in these settings must be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge, competence, skills and experience in nursing children with skin disease. Recognising this need, children’s dermatology nurses from across the UK have developed this RCN competence framework. The framework aims to establish explicit, nationally-agreed role profiles for children’s dermatology specialist nursing roles.
Document
Swine flu pandemic: from containment to treatment - guidance for the NHS (2nd July 2009)This guidance outlines the rationale of the movement from containment to treatment to manage a flu pandemic; sets out roles and responsibilities for the NHS over coming months and outlines support being made available to NHS and front line staff.
Guidance Swine flu: from containment to treatment (2nd July 2009)As swine flu spreads and more people start to catch it, it makes sense to move from intensive efforts to contain the virus to focusing efforts on treating the increasing number of people who have the disease.
Following the agreement of ministers in all four UK nations, and in line with the Department of Health's (DH) own Pandemic Flu plans, the DH made the decision on 2 July to move from containment and outbreak management policies to the treatment phase.
This paper is intended to provide clear information explaining why we have chosen to do this, what our plans are from now on and how these developments will affect the general public.
LeafletSwine flu: from containment to treatment - scientific issues (2nd July 2009)This document summarises scientific issues relevant to the treatment phase and published recommendations from other large countries and WHO.
Document
Venous thromboembolism prevention: a patient safety priority (25th June 2009)Resource document issued at the Leadership Summit: Venous Thromboembolism in the NHS, convened by the Chief Medical Officer and the All-Party Parliamentary Thrombosis Group.
Document
A minimum income standard for Britain in 2009 (1st July 2009)This study updates 2008’s innovative research, based on what members of the public thought people need for an acceptable minimum standard of living.
It shows:
- What different family types need to earn to meet the minimum income standard;
- How much the cost of a minimum household budget has risen since the original research in 2008.
Exploratory research with members of the public involved in the 2008 project suggests that even in today’s tough economic climate, people maintain their view of what things are needed to participate fully in society. As such, this is an important contribution to debates about what is happening to living standards and poverty during the recession.
ReportBuilding public support for eradicating poverty in the UK (6th July 2009)A look at different ways of building public support for tackling UK poverty.
Public support is necessary to encourage Government action to tackle UK poverty. However, building public support for this can be challenging. This study:
- looks at successful ways of building public support for tackling UK poverty, including the use of 'real life' stories, for example;
- explores how organisations measure the effectiveness of their initiatives;
- finds that only few initiatives explicitly aim to build public support for the UK poverty agenda – and these initiatives tend to change perceptions and behaviour rather than attitudes; and
- argues that the term 'poverty' needs to be clarified, and possibly avoided when first engaging people.
ReportPoverty in the media: Being seen and getting heard (6th July 2009)Public understanding of poverty in the UK is limited. The media can give people with experience of poverty the opportunity to present their views, experiences and opinions, which can help to inform and create a groundswell of public opinion supporting efforts to tackle poverty.This study focuses on:
- how people can give their views and tell their stories when they are presented as 'case studies' in the press, on radio or television;
- the roles and responsibilities of voluntary and community organisations in helping journalists find case study individuals – and the issues those individuals should consider;
- opportunities in the 'new' media to produce and disseminate material, and the challenge of reaching an audience;
- the need to produce accessible, good-quality material that people will pass on;
- viral' media and developing online communities.
Report
The link between healthcare spending and health outcomes (June 2009)This report presents preliminary results from research undertaken as part of the Quest for Quality and Improved Performance (QQUIP), an initiative of The Health Foundation.
Report
Health Profiles 2009 (July 2009)Health Profiles 2009 for every local authority and region across England have been published. Health Profiles provide a snapshot of health for each local council in England using key health indicators, which enables comparison locally, regionally and over time. They are designed to help local councils and the NHS decide where to target resources and tackle health inequalities in their local area.
Profiles Public health and sustainable composting (6th July 2009)Factsheet about the health effects of composting, at the industrial as well as home and community levels.
Factsheet
Social Care for Deafblind Children and Adults (23rd June 2009)This guidance is being issued under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. The guidance is relevant to all local social services staff and requires specific actions to be taken such as identifying and keeping records on deafblind people in catchment areas.
This Circular replaces LAC(2001)8 which was cancelled on 28 February 2006.
Guidance
NHS Mutual: engaging staff and aligning incentives to achieve higher levels of performance (1st July 2009)NHS Mutual: Engaging staff and aligning incentives to achieve higher levels of performance looks at the factors that drive staff engagement in the health service, and examines various models of employee ownership in use both within and outside the NHS. The authors conclude that there are at least five ways in which employee ownership can be fostered within the health service, and that the time is now right for the Government to support those willing to test different approaches.
Document
