Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 ( 27th November 2008)
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 13 November 2008.
Act
The health of our hospitals revealed - Hospital Guide 2008 (November 2008)
Dr Foster reveals the health of our hospitals in the annual Hospital Guide. This year’s report focuses on three dimensions of quality: patient safety, effectiveness of care and patient experience. Key findings include: market reforms beginning to bite in the NHS; another year where overall mortality ratios have fallen; wide variations in access to cancer treatments and more.
Hospital Guide
The impact of alcohol in Greater Manchester: quarterly report November 2008 (1st December 2008)
This report identifies available alcohol intelligence across Greater Manchester.
Report
Opinions on the impact of alcohol on individuals and communities: early summary findings from the NorthWest Big Drink Debate (5th December 2008)
Opinions on the impact of alcohol on individuals and communities: early summary findings from the NorthWest Big Drink Debate.
Findings
Cancer reform strategy: maintaining momentum, building for the future - first annual report on progress (1st December 2008)
In the first annual report of the Cancer Reform Strategy, Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director, sets out the considerable amount of progress made in implementing the strategy since its publication in December 2007. The report covers the wide range of actions that were set out in the strategy, highlighting areas of particular progress and setting out a range of priorities for the future.
Cover letter Annual Report
Health partnerships: annual report 2007/08, DH International (28th November 2008)
DH International is the specialist team supporting health initiatives overseas, working in partnership with all major stakeholders. DH International sits within the Department of Health’s International Division, which has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the Department’s global and EU business.
Report
Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2008 (8th December 2008)
This is the tenth anniversary of MPSE annual reports, which provide an independent assessment of the progress being made in eliminating poverty and social exclusion in Britain. This report uses official government data from a wide range of sources, and is built around a set of 50 indicators. The analysis covers the full range of issues, including material on low income, work, qualifications, health, housing, and exclusion from services. A major theme of this year’s report is comparing progress over the first five years of this government with the most recent five.
Report
Summary
Cancer Incidence by Deprivation England, 1995-2004 (2nd December 2008)
This report, published by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), provided analyses for patients diagnosed in two five-year time periods 1995-99 and 2000-04 for 23 of the more common cancer sites or groups, and for an overall grouping of all malignancies combined (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer). Analyses are presented showing the relationship between the incidence of each cancer or cancer group and the relative socio-economic deprivation for males, females and both sexes combined.
Report
Going further on cancer waits (2nd December 2008)
This communication from Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, is targeted at professional colleagues, to explain the new standards for cancer waiting times that come into force on 1 January 2009; and the associated changes in the methodology for collecting and reporting data on those standards.
Information
Integrated Care: Lessons from Evidence and Experience. Report of the 2008 Sir Roger Bannister Annual Health Seminar (21st November 2008)
With an aging population and an increasing prevalence of chronic disease, ever more people require care and support services from organisations that cross the boundaries of health, social care, housing and voluntary organisations. This paper, from The Nuffield Trust, summarises the discussions made by the main speakers at the seminar that was held on the subject of integrated care for people with chronic disease.
Report
Do you recognise pain in someone with a learning difficulty and dementia? (27th November 2008)
A set of resources (from Joseph Rowntree Foundation) to help care staff, GPs and carers to recognise and treat pain in people who have a learning difficulty and dementia. People with learning difficulties are living longer, which means they are more likely to develop the conditions of older age, such as dementia. Someone with a learning difficulty and dementia may not be able to communicate that they are in pain and it can be ignored or mistaken for challenging behaviour.
Poster
Factsheet
Guide for GPs
Guide for care staff and carers
Seeing the person in the patient. The Point of Care Review Paper (December 2008)
The Point of Care programme has been set up to transform patients’ experience of care in hospital, and to enable health care staff to deliver high-quality care. Based on existing research and qualitative studies with patients and families, hospital staff and board members, this report looks at some of the problems that patients experience with their care and at the factors that shape that experience. Assessing the evidence to support various interventions, the King’s Fund suggest initiatives that have the potential to create sustainable change in patients’ care.
Report
Child Protection and the Ofsted Joint Area Review report on safeguarding of children in Haringey (1st December 2008)
Statement in covering letter from David Nicholson on child protection and the Ofsted Joint Area Review report on safeguarding of children in Haringey
Letter
Review
Practice-based Commissioning: Reinvigorate, replace or abandon? (November 2008)
Practice-based commissioning (PBC) is one of the cornerstones of health policy reform, but has it delivered its intended benefits? Its objectives were to encourage clinical engagement in service redesign and development, improve services for patients and make better use of resources. Through in-depth interviews with GPs, hospital and primary care trust staff in four sites, this report assesses the progress of PBC and identifies the barriers that are limiting success. Using the evidence from the four case studies and from previous research, it suggests ways forward for policy-makers.
Report
Commissioning and Behaviour Change. Kicking Bad Habits Final Report (8th December 2008)
Unhealthy behaviours – smoking, alcohol misuse, poor diet, lack of exercise – lead to ill health, with resulting costs to individuals, to the NHS and to society as a whole. PCTs are expected to commission support to help people change their behaviour to adopt more health lifestyles – but what should that support be? The Kicking Bad Habits programme was launched to identify effective interventions. Drawing on a series of working papers and seminars, this report assesses existing and innovative methods the health service can use to persuade people to adopt more healthy lifestyles, including providing information, personal support and financial and other incentives.
Report
Practice-based Commissioning Development Framework (1st December 2008)
The Department of Health has established a PBC Development Framework, which SHAs, PCTs and practice-based commissioners (PBCs) can now use to appoint appropriately skilled organisations to provide a range of PBC capability development support.
Framework
Driven by Dogma? Outsourcing in the health service (5th December 2008)
This report, published by the Office for Public Management (OPM), draws on the experiences of NHS senior managers and commissioners to highlight the complexity of the commissioning process and the problems of coping with the mountains of bureaucracy and paperwork attached to it.
Report
Safe. Sensible. Social. Consultation on further action: Consultation Report - December 2008 (3rd December 2008)
Government consulted between July - October 2008 on whether to strengthen standards for the responsible production and sale of alcohol, and on whether the NHS could improve advice and support for those that need it. A summary of responses to the consultation has been published.
Response
Original Consultation
Consultation on the future of tobacco control: consultation report: December 2008 (9th December 2008)
The Department of Health published a consultation paper entitled 'Consultation on the future of tobacco control', on 31 May 2008. This consultation was the first step in developing a new national tobacco control strategy. The consultation closed on 8 September and this report summarises the responses which were received. It aims to provide a representative summary of all the responses, drawing out key themes and messages. The consultation report has been provided to Ministers to support their decision-making on future tobacco control policy.
Response
Original Consultation
Reform of health and social care complaints: proposed changes to the legislative framework (5th December 2008)
The complaints arrangements for health and social care are being reformed. Successive reports have found that some complaints take too long to resolve and services do not systematically try to learn from the important feedback that complaints offer. In addition, there is strong evidence that some people do not complain because they either do not know how to or believe doing so will not result in any action. There has been ongoing consultation about these plans since the launch of the 'Making Experiences Count' consultation in June 2007. Closing date for comments is 6th January 2009.
Consultation document
Feedback form
Feedback events
Making experience count - response to consultation
The future of the healthcare science workforce. Modernising scientific careers, the next steps: a consultation (26th November 2008)
This consultation document sets out proposals to transform the future training and career pathways of the healthcare science workforce. These proposals have been developed as the result of detailed discussions with nearly 3,000 stakeholders. This UK initiative will be taken forward by the four countries in partnership with all major stakeholders, including patient groups, to ensure that the healthcare science workforce is fit for the future in a rapidly changing and evolving healthcare environment. Closing date for comments is 6th March 2009.
Consultation document
Impact assessment
MSC online questionnaire
The Health and Safety of Great Britain/Be part of the solution (3rd December 2008)
Health and Safety Executive are running a consultation process on their new strategy. The strategy is looking at the following key areas: need for strong leadership; building competence; involving the workforce; creating healthier, safer workplaces; customising support for SMEs; avoiding catastrophe; and taking a wider perspective. The closing date for comments is 2nd March 2009.
Consultation document
Response Form
Preparing for our ageing society - a discussion paper (25th November 2008)
Within 20 years half of the adult UK population will be over 50. One in four children born today will live beyond 100. These are dramatic shifts that have far-reaching consequences for us all, and our ageing population will change our society in many ways. This discussion paper (from the Department for Work and Pensions), and a series of associated public discussion events, are part of the first stage of a review of the Government’s strategy for meeting the challenges of our ageing society. The next step will be the publication of a more detailed set of ideas in Spring 2009. The DWP want to discuss the issues to be addressed in the strategy and give you the opportunity to tell them what you think is most important for a fulfilling later life. Closing date for comments is 20th January 2009.
Discussion Paper
Response Form
Creating a new professional regulator for pharmacy: health care and associated professions - the draft Pharmacy Order 2009 (9th December 2008)
The draft Pharmacy Order 2009 and consultation document set out proposals to create a new regulator for pharmacy professionals and pharmacy premises in England, Wales and Scotland. The consultation will run from 9 December 2009 and close on 9 March 2009. The final version of the order will then be the subject of an affirmative resolution process in both the Scottish and UK Parliaments.
Consultation
Draft Pharmacy Order 2009
Consultation Response Form
Impact Assessment
Feedback and Events
‘Bronchial Boogie’ to beat asthma (5th December 2008)
Seven to 11-year-olds with asthma meet weekly for Oldham’s ‘Bronchial Boogie’ project. The scheme aims to improve respiratory health and raise self-esteem in seven to 11-year-olds with asthma.
Information
Making sense of: domestic violence (December 2008)
This case study looks at the approaches to the issue of domestic violence that are proven to work, including: The Coordinated Community Response model; Prevention and early intervention; Key role for health services; The WORTH (Ways of Responding through Health) Project, West Sussex; Local and national publicity campaigns; Education in schools and colleges for young people. It also looks at the support available to victims and outlines why these approaches work.
Case Study
Guidance on standards for the establishment and operation of drug consumption rooms in the UK (3rd December 2008)
This report provides essential guidance for local multi-agency partnerships that are contemplating establishing and operating a drug consumption room (DCR) in the UK. A number of local partnerships across England, Wales and Scotland are currently discussing whether or how DCRs might help address their local drug problems. At present there are no DCRs in the UK, however, evidence elsewhere suggests that they can be valuable for engaging marginalised drug users, reducing overdose deaths and can have a beneficial impact on community safety in areas where public drug use is widespread.
Report
Food in School Report (Final) (27th November 2008)
This report, by the partners of The North West School Food Cluster, is a summary of the work of the partners in the North West School Food Cluster in 2007-2008 and outlines the current priorities for 2008.2009.
Report
Bury’s over 50s-scheme (5th December 2008)
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council’s ‘Age of Opportunities’ initiative promotes health and wellbeing for residents aged 50 and over.
Information
Secretary of State report on disability equality: health and care services (1st December 2008)
This report draws on the available evidence and case studies reflecting national, regional and local points of view to assess progress in meeting the requirements of the Disability Equality Duty and remaining areas where more needs to be done across the health and care sector.
Report
Easy-read version
Report of an event hosted by RADAR to enable disabled people and disability organisations to advise the Department of Health
Questionnaire
Insight: Work fit for all - disability, health and the experience of negative treatment in the British workplace (27th November 2008)
The number of people claiming incapacity benefits in Britain has more than doubled over the last 20 years. By comparison with other countries, Britain has large numbers of disabled people and people with long-term illnesses, and proportionately fewer of these people are employed. The Government intends to reverse this trend and move more disabled people and people with long-term illnesses into employment, as outlined in its plans for the new equality bill and the welfare reform green paper. This research shows that disabled people and people with long-term illnesses are more likely to perceive themselves as subject to negative treatment at work, and this has implications for Government policy.
Report
Clarifying Joint Financing Arrangements - A briefing paper for health bodies and local authorities (4th December 2008)
A briefing that demystifies pooled funds and Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006 and reviews the current range of joint financing arrangements between NHS bodies and local authorities across health and social care. It is the first in a series of publications relating to a national study which is due to be published in spring 2009.
Briefing
IFRS briefing paper 5 - Auditors’ review of the restated 1 April 2008 balance sheet (4th December 2008)
Our fifth NHS IFRS briefing paper considers the work auditors will do in respect of the restatement of the 1 April 2008 balance sheet. The Commission is developing an approach that will focus on the arrangements NHS bodies have put in place to restate the opening balance sheet.
Briefing
Report of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocations (December 2008) (8th December 2008)
A report of the review of the weighted capitation formula, undertaken by the Committee between 2005 and 2008.
Report
Allocations to primary care trusts for 2009-10 and 2010-11 (8th December 2008)
The Department of health has, today, announced allocations to primary care trusts for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Document
Applying for NHS Foundation Trust status: a guide for applicants (November 2008) (4th December 2008)
This guide for applicants has been developed by Monitor and the Department of Health. It is intended to provide aspirant and applicant acute, specialist, teaching, mental health, ambulance and potential community foundation trusts, with a comprehensive explanation of the NHS foundation trust application process and the requirements for achieving NHS foundation trust status. The document covers all of the stages of the application process from the SHA-led Trust Development Phase and the Secretary of State Support Phase through to Monitor’s assessment process and the application outcome. This document supersedes all previous versions of the guide, including Applying for NHS Foundation Trust Status: Guide for Mental Health NHS Trusts.
Guide
Supporting Carers: An action guide for general practitioners and their teams (October 2008)
This Guide was jointly developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, this self-assessment toolkit is designed so that Primary Care Teams can measure themselves against agreed criteria for the services they provide for patients and their carers, particularly focusing on teamwork and practice organisation.
Guide
Carers as Partners (leaflet for GPs)
Carers in Practice (leaflet for carers)
Practice based commissioning GP practice survey (5th December 2008)
This is the fifth quarterly practice survey, covering a sample of practices from each primary care trust (PCT), conducted between September and November 2008. The aims of the survey are to get feedback from practices on their perception of the support offered by their PCT and on the clinical and financial engagement of practices with PBC. The survey is part of a group of indicators that will be assessed together to give a picture of PBC implementation.
Summary of Results
Detailed Results for Primary Care Trusts
Detailed Results for Primary Care Trusts by SHA
