ABOUT THIS BLOG

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.

ALCOHOL

Too much of the hard stuff: what alcohol costs the NHS (1st January 2010)
Consumption of alcohol in the UK has increased by 19 per cent over the last three decades and is now higher than in any other European country. Recent reports indicate that 10.5 million adults in England drink above sensible limits and around 1.1 million have a level of alcohol addiction. Alcohol is the third leading cause of disease burden in developed countries and, as a result, the cost of providing alcohol-related services is escalating. The burden on the NHS will be unsustainable if this continues.

This Briefing, produced with the Royal College of Physicians, outlines the extent of the problem and gives examples of where the NHS is managing problem drinkers effectively and efficiently.
Briefing

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

The Emerging Leaders Newsletter: Issue 1 (12th January 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 1 (8th January 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 2 (15th January 2010)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin (January 2010)

Emergency Care, Issue 64, January 2010 (12th January 2010)

CANCER

National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI) vision (19th January 2010)
The vision document provides an update on the first year of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI), which was announced in the Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) and formally launched in September 2008.

The document describes the emerging vision for improved care and support for people living with and beyond cancer, and brings together the work of service users, carers, clinicians, commissioners, charities and researchers.
Document

CARE/CARERS

The revised National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care (13th January 2010)
This letter draws the attention of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to two aspects of the revised National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care in terms of governance and commissioning.
Framework

COMMISSIONING

Improving the health and well-being of people with long-term conditions. world class services for people with long term conditions: information tool for commissioners (14th January 2010)
The main aim of the information tool is to share a common vision of what a good service for people with LTCs, and to provide some practical suggestions for commissioners to help them achieve that vision.
Publication

Benchmark figures for the likely demand for PETCT scans by indication (8th January 2010)
As the key recommendations contained in the Framework for the Development of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Services in England have now been implemented, the framework is no longer current. In order to help Specialised Commissioners in their ongoing planning for PET services, this document sets out benchmark figures for the likely demand for PETCT scans by indication.
Document

Commissioning for recovery. Drug treatment, reintegration and recovery in the community and prisons: a guide for drug partnerships (January 2010)
This document, published by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA), aims to give practical advice on how local commissioners may seek to continually develop effective, evidence-based treatment options with a focus on enabling service users to reintegrate into society and recover as soon as is practicable.
Document

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Overarching report of findings from the Adult Autism Strategy consultation (11th January 2010)
The consultation on the future strategy for adults with autustic spectrum conditions (ASC) closed on 15 September 2009. Over 1,100 responses were received, including from people with ASC, families and carers, voluntary sector organisations and health and social care bodies. This document is a summary of the findings from the consultation, setting out the approach taken, and the key themes and priority actions identified by respondents.
Publication

Adult autism strategy consultation. A summary of the submissions received in response to the online consultation (19th January 2010)
The consultation on the future strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC) closed on 15 September 2009. Over 1,100 responses were received, including people with ASC, families and carers, voluntary sector organisations and health and social care bodies. This report highlights the findings from the consultation including the importance of training, awareness raising and better diagnosis pathways.
Report

Health protection regulations: response to the consultation (13th January 2010)
This is the response to a Department of Health consultation which sought comments on proposals for three sets of regulations to be made under the amended Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, taking forward the modernisation of health protection law. The regulations cover notification of hazards, safeguards for individuals and updated local authority powers. The consultation began on 8 July and closed on 30 September 2009. Subject to Parliament, it is planned that the regulations will come into force on 6 April 2010 (except certain provisions in the Notification Regulations which are planned to come into force on 1 October 2010).
Consultation Response

General Pharmaceutical Council (Constitution) Order 2009, consultation report (12th January 2010)
The General Pharmaceutical Council (Constitution) Order was published in draft for public consultation between 27 October 2009 and 25 November 2009. This report provides information on the outcome of that consultation.
Consultation Response

The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 1990: disclosure of identifying information, report of second public consultation (11th January 2010)
The consultation document contained proposals for amendments to be made to new regulations on the disclosure of identifying information for research purposes. This report summarises the responses received during the consultation.
Consultation Response

DRUGS

Mephedrone - an update on current knowledge (12th January 2010)

This briefing presents information on the substance Mephedrone (also known as: 4‐MMC, ‘Meow’, ‘M‐Cat’) and other related drugs. This substance has received recent media attention concerning its legality and (largely unconfirmed) speculations around its contribution to the deaths of several young people. Little scientific evidence is available on mephedrone and most information is derived from users themselves or user orientated websites.
Briefing

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

National Evaluation of Partnerships for Older People Projects: final report (18th January 2010)
The Partnership for Older People Projects (POPP) were funded by the Department of Health to develop services for older people, aimed at promoting their health, well-being and independence and preventing or delaying their need for higher intensity or institutional care. The evaluation found that a wide range of projects resulted in improved quality of life for participants and considerable savings, as well as better local working relationships.
Report

Improving care and saving money: learning the lessons on prevention and early intervention for older people (18th January 2010)
This document provides the key learning from the national Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP) programme.
Guidance

Personal budgets for older people - making it happen (13th January 2010)
This guide focuses on how councils can make personal budgets work well for older people and their families. It looks at how to ensure personal budgets are accessible, simple to use, flexible and help to achieve the things that matter most to the people using them.
Guide

A Guide to co-production with older people (December 2009)
A small co-production design team involving older people and strategic leads from three local authorities worked with NDTi and Helen Sanderson Associates to produce a further related publication on understanding co-production and how to make it happen with older people.The guide describes how local authorities, older people and older people's organisations can work together to design and deliver opportunities, support and services that improve wellbeing and quality of life.
Guide

FAMILIES

Support for All: the Families and Relationships Green Paper (January 2010)
This Green Paper sets out a wide range of measures to support all families as they bring up their children and to help families cope with times of stress and difficulty. They recognise that while all families need some help, there are families in our society with complex needs and others who require additional — and sometimes non-negotiable — support.
Document

GENERAL PRACTICE

RCGP Guide to the Revalidation of General Practitioners - Version 3.0 (18th January 2010)
The Royal College of General Practitioners has updated it's revalidation guide. The key changes include:

• Adoption of the use of the phrase “supporting information” in place of “evidence”, in keeping with other relevant organisations
• Adjustment of the timelines to reflect the fact that the Early Adopters programme (in which the first doctors will revalidate) will now start in the year 2011/12
• The possibility of GPs submitting a quality improvement project in the place of a second clinical audit
• Reference to the revalidation of GPs in training
• Simplification of the Learning Credits (Supporting information area 6)
• A refinement of the definition of activities included in extended practice (Supporting information area 13)
• Emphasis of the discretion that will be required by Responsible Officers for assessing supporting information for revalidation.

Guide

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Making policy count: developing performance indicators for health and social care partnerships (12th January 2010)
This paper updates on work underway to develop new performance indicators for adult social care, and health and care partnerships. It sets out its context, recent progress, and asks for stakeholder support through comments and offers to pilot work. Feedback will not be compiled formally, but individual queries could be addressed on the project website.
Position paper

MENTAL HEALTH

Keeping children and young people in mind: the Government's full response to the independent review of CAMHS (7th January 2010)
The full Government response to the final report of the independent CAMHS review, setting out progress to date and plans for the future of children and young people's mental health. The response also gives examples of the outcomes expected from a good service as an aid for commissioners, providers and practitioners.
Response

Improving dementia services in England - an interim report (14th January 2010)
The Department of Health has developed an ambitious and comprehensive strategy for dementia. However, there has not yet been a robust approach to implementation, according to a National Audit Office report published today. Despite the Department stating, since 2007, that dementia is now a national priority, it has not been given the levers or urgency normally expected for such a priority and there is a risk that value for money will remain poor unless these weaknesses are addressed urgently.
Report

NHS

The standard NHS contracts for acute hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services and supporting guidance (18th January 2010)
The NHS standard contracts for Mental Health and Learning Disability, Ambulance Services, Acute Hospital and Community Services are published today.

The contracts support the NHS Operating Framework for 20010-2011: The contracts should be read in conjunction with the Principles and Rules for Co-operation and Competition and the PCT Procurement Guide.
Documents

Funding and Performance of Healthcare Systems in the Four Countries of the UK Before and After Devolution (20th January 2010)
Political devolution means there are now four National Health Services in the United Kingdom. The health services of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all funded by the UK taxpayer, but have developed different systems of governance and different methods of providing healthcare.

Funding and Performance of Healthcare Systems in the Four Countries of the UK Before and After Devolution examines the impact of this by studying key performance indicators for the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at three time points – 1996/7, 2002/3 and 2006/7. The report also undertakes a completely new comparison of NHS performance in the English regions and the devolved countries. This is the first time such an analysis has been conducted.
Report

The operating framework for the NHS in England 2010/11 (4th January 2010)
This briefing details the key points of the operating framework, the white paper and the Pre-Budget Report.
Briefing

NHS European Office: policy priorities 2010 (5th January 2010)
The NHS European Office has published its policy priorities for 2010. The work of the European Office covers a wide range of EU policy and legislative proposals of key relevance to the NHS; as a provider and commissioner of healthcare, as an employer and as a business.

This document outlines the main policy areas on which the European Office will be working throughout the calendar year.
Document

The new EU Remedies Directive: proven procurement is of the essence (13th January 2010)
New EU rules which improve access to rapid and effective review procedures for suppliers who allege that public authorities have breached procurement rules have taken effect in the UK.

The EU Remedies Directive amends the UK Public Contract Regulations and will affect all procurement contracts commenced after 20 December 2009.

The NHS European Office have published this briefing to raise awareness amongst NHS managers involved in procurement of the key changes to the rules and to highlight new provisions in the law which public authorities can use to protect themselves from challenge.
Briefing

Controlling public spending: The NHS in a period of tight funding (7th January 2010)
Policy Exchange research, which included a roundtable discussion with a number of senior academics and business leaders with expertise in the NHS, considers some of the options for the NHS in a period of tight funding. They believe that in order to protect the NHS into the future the next Government needs to make bold decisions on:
Performance related pay
Reducing variations in clinical practice
GP fundholding
Decommissioning services
Transformational change project
Report

NICE

Consultation Documents (1st January 2010 - 20th January 2010)
Nice are now consulting on the following:

Food allergy in children: scope consultation - closing date for comments is 8th February 2010

Chronic heart failure (partial update) draft guideline consultation - closing date for comments is 10th March 2010

Preventing obesity: a whole-system approach: consultation on the draft scope - closing date for comments is 12th February 2010

Transient loss of consciousness in adults: guideline consultation - closing date for comments is 17th March 2010

Latest Implementation Tools (13th January 2010)
Tools to aid implementation of latest guidance

CG90 Depression in adults: audit support

CG91 Depression with a chronic physical health problem: audit support

IPG324 Electrocautery cutting balloon treatment for pelviureteric junction obstruction: audit support

IPG322 Negative pressure wound therapy for the open abdomen: audit support

IPG329 Total prosthetic replacement of the temporomandibular joint: audit support

IPG330 Vagus nerve stimulation for treatment- resistant depression: audit support

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Management of General Ophthalmic Services budget (12th January 2010)
This guidance explains arrangements for managing the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) budget following the decision announced in the 2010 NHS Operating Framework that responsibility for budgetary management of GOS will be devolved to PCTs from 1 April 2010.
Guidance

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic (H1N1) influenza: a summary of guidance for infection control in healthcare settings (8th January 2010)
This document is an updated version of Pandemic flu: A summary of guidance for infection control in health care settings issued in September 2007. It is specific to the current pandemic influenza virus, pandemic (H1N1), and thus represents current guidance.
Guidance

Pandemic influenza: summary infection control guidance for ambulance services during an influenza pandemic (8th January 2010)
The purpose of this document is to set out concise summary guidance for infection control for the ambulance services and it is intended for use during the pandemic. The guidance in this document is equally applicable to lay responders, who should adopt the same infection control and hygiene measures.
Guidance

PAYMENT BY RESULTS

Kidney dialysis: developing costs to delivery an equitable and high quality service: final report (18th January 2010)
The working group looking at Payment by Results for renal dialysis has produced a report of its work. The report will feed into work being taken forward to develop a best practice tariff for kidney dialysis services.
Report

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Children, Schools and Families Committee - The work of the Committee in 2008-09 - Third Report of Session 2009-10 (13th January 2010)

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - The work of the Committee 2008-09 - Second Report of Session 2009-10 (7th January 2010)

Health Committee - Alcohol - First Report of Session 2009-10 (8th January 2010)
Vol. 1
Memorandum by Professor Gerard Hastings, Institute for Social Marketing University of Stirling and the Open University

Home Affairs - Work of the Committee in 2008-09 - Fourth Report of Session 2009-10 (15th January 2010)

Joint Committee on Human Rights - Work of the Committee 2008-09 - Second Report of Session 2009-10 (15th January 2010)

Work and Pensions Committee - Work of the Committee 2009-10 - First Report of Session 2009-2010 (13th January 2010)

PHARMACY

Use of medication in care homes (7th January 2010)
Recently published research commissioned by the DH as part of the patient safety programme identified considerable scope for improvement of prescription, dispensing, administration and monitoring of medicines in care homes. The study's authors recommend clear local leadership and improved inter-professional communication.
Documents

POVERTY

Devolution's impact on low-income people and places (13th January 2010)
What is the impact of devolution for people and places in poverty?

For the tenth anniversary of devolution, this Round-up and a series of reports explored trends in social and economic disadvantage as well as policy developments in four areas: housing and homelessness, employment, neighbourhood regeneration and long-term care for older people.
Documents

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

PCT Value for money profiles (15th January 2010)
The new primary care trust (PCT) value for money (VfM) profiles are available as an interactive web tool.

The tool provides comparative information about a selected PCT's performance in managing costs and delivering outputs (activities) and outcomes (health improvements for local people). It also tracks performance over time to see whether improvements are being achieved in line with priorities and how the trend in performance compares to others.
Tool

Practice-based commissioning budget guidance for 2010/11 (14th January 2010)
PCTs are responsible for ensuring that practices receive an indicative budget that reflects the needs of their population as accurately as possible. This allows a practice to access a 'fair share' of the resources available to the whole of the PCT for its patients. The Department has updated the toolkit that can be used to determine weighted capitation indicative budgets at practice level. This is part of our ongoing commitment to refine the methodology and improve accuracy.
Toolkit

GP Extended Opening Hours (7th January 2010)
PCTs are to continue to progress extended opening hours in GP practices, particularly for patients of practices who are not offering this service. The current DES rolls forward in 2010/11 and PCTs are asked to submit plans saying how they will make full use of the resources available for extended opening.
Document

PUBLIC HEALTH

Public Health Manifesto (18th January 2010)
The Faculty of Public Health and the Royal Society for Public Health have published a package of 12 practical recommendations that will improve the UK's health and well-being for the new decade if adopted by the next government.
Manifesto

Alcohol and Food: making the public health connections (6th January 2010)
This report is a literature review into the links surrounding alcohol and food. It is the first step in the process of making the public aware of the dangers and benefits that food and alcohol together represent.
Report

A Healthier Nation (13th January 2010)

Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, has launched the Conservative Party’s new green paper on public health - A Healthier Nation.

The paper shows the need for overhauling how better public health should be promoted:

• There must be a focus on reducing health inequalities, in a locally led public health strategy and throughoutgovernment - from the strengthening of support for families with young children to reducing preventable winter deaths among elderly people.
• Some parts of public health policy need to be led nationally - immunisation programmes, emergency planning orbehaviour change campaigns. Wherever possible, these should be evidence-based and linked to the latest advancesin social psychology and behavioural economics, so that they work intelligently with the way real people live their everyday lives.
• Responsibility for improving public health, and the budget to do so, must be decentralised as far as possible - away from central government control and out to local communities.
• Councils, communities and independent providers should be rewarded for reducing health problems like obesity, teenage pregnancy and alcohol abuse – when they make serious savings for the NHS and the taxpayer, they shouldbe rewarded for it

Paper

RISK MANAGEMENT

NHSLA Risk Management Standards (11th January 2010)
The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) have released risk management standards for the following:

• Acute Trusts, Primary Care Trusts and Independent Sector Providers of NHS Care
• Mental Health and Learning Disability Trusts
• Ambulance Trusts

Standards

STATISTICS

NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting times figures, 30 November 2009 (8th January 2010)

Data on the Health Life Years in the European Union 2007 (19th January 2010)

Breast Screening Programme, England 2008-09 (20th January 2010)

Routine Quarterly Mental Health Minimum Dataset Reports - Q1 2009-2010 - Trust level data quality reports - plus Q1 and provisional Q2 Mental Health Service Performance Indicators (20th January 2010)

NHS Staff Earnings July - September 2009 (19th January 2010)

Diagnostics waiting times and activity data: November 2009 (13th January 2010)

STRATEGIC HEALTH AUTHORITY

Education commissioning for quality (7th January 2010)
These documents outline an enhanced, comprehensive education commissioning system for non-medical and medical staff, set principles for managing relationships between health and education more effectively and provide guidance to build education commissioning capacity and capability in SHAs.
Documents

WELLBEING

The State of Happiness (18th January 2010)
A major new report from the Young Foundation and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) highlights that promoting and influencing happiness is no longer just an aspiration. As the recession forces difficult public spending choices, services focused on wellbeing are delivering widespread economic and social benefits – especially to children.
Report

WORKFORCE/WORKPLACE

Human rights and human resources in the NHS: implications for the workplace (19th January 2010)
The NHS Constitution, which came into law as part of the Health Act in November 2009, makes it clear that healthcare and human rights go hand in hand.

This Briefing outlines a human rights approach to managing workplace practices, which can not only keep organisations operating within the law, but can help further the reputation of the NHS as a model employer. It shows some of the ways the Human Rights Act could be used to challenge human resource decisions, and provides a useful decision making tool to ensure compliance.
Briefing