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.

AUDIT

Annual audit letters 2008/09 (29th January 2010)
The Audit Commission publish annual audit letters to enhance the openness and transparency of the audit process, for which they have overall responsibility. Annual audit letters summarise key matters arising from the yearly audit in clear language for executives and stakeholders.
Audit letters

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 3 (22nd January 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 4 (29th January 2010)

DH Care Networks Telecare eNewsletter - January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

User-Led Organisation Action and Learning Newsletter, Winter 2009/10 (2nd February 2010)

The month: issue 29, January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

AHP Bulletin, Issue 75, January 2010 (26th January 2010)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin, edition 59 (February 2010)

Medical Directors Bulletin, Issue 100, January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

Social Care Bulletin, Issue 13, January 2010 (3rd February 2010)

CANCER

An evaluation of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative test community projects: report of the baseline patient experience survey (20th January 2010)
43% of cancer survivors responding to a recent survey conducted by the Picker Institute Europe said they would have liked more information and advice, 75% did not have, or did not know if they had a care plan and 75% reported not knowing who to contact for advice out of hours.

So, whilst it’s extremely encouraging to note that 85% of patients said their follow up care was ’excellent’ or ‘very good’, there is clearly much work to do ensure all receive care that is truly patient-centred.
Press release
Survey

CARE QUALITY COMMISSION

'Count me in' census 2009 (21st January 2010)
This report finds that the NHS, councils and wider community bodies should work together to improve preventative services to ensure that they meet the mental health needs of people from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups.
Report

CARE/CARERS

Integrated care pilots expansion (2nd February 2010)
Following successes in the original 16 ICPs the programme has been expanded to encourage and facilitate the sharing of knowledge amongst a wider range of stakeholders nationally and identify further innovative initiatives. The Department of Health are now inviting sites to send us their completed self-assessment forms in order to join the expanded community. Further guidance on the submission process is detailed within the tool documentation.
Documents

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Giving children a healthy start (3rd February 2010)
This report assesses the local implementation of national policy from 1999 to 2009 on the health of children from birth to five years of age in England. It examines local service planning and delivery, including priority setting, and how local bodies can improve service delivery and access for vulnerable groups such as black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, lone and teenage parents. The report discusses the impact of government funding on health outcomes for the under-fives; how effectively local bodies manage their resources; and the extent to which they are providing good value for money. It provides recommendations for national and local bodies, as well as examples of notable practice.
Report

Small steps towards a healthier life (2nd February 2010)
The Food Standards Agency has officially launched SmallSteps4Life – an interactive website to motivate young people to take simple steps towards improving their health and well-being, both inside and outside the classroom.
Information

Promoting the emotional health of children and young people: guidance for Children's Trust partnerships, including how to deliver (January 2010)
The emotional health of children and young people is increasingly recognised as being fundamental to the wellbeing and future prospects of individuals and communities. Emotional health is nurtured primarily in the home, but we know that practitioners and services can and do make a difference.

This non-statutory guidance is for directors and assistant directors of children’s services, directors of public health, commissioning managers in local authorities and Primary Care Trusts. It aims to help Children’s Trust partners to develop a strategic approach to improving the emotional health of children and young people, in line with the aims of NI 50.
Guidance

COMMISSIONING

Standards for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (21st January 2010)
New Standards for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are now available to support the commissioning and provision of high quality care for STIs across all settings.
Standards

Final report of the Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision (28th January 2010)
Following the issue of its interim report in 2008, and the publication of a commissioning aid in June 2009, the final report of the independent expert group on commissioning NHS infertility provision is now available to download below. Key points include:

• the development of a national tariff for regulated fertility services
• a project to share information on local prices and tariffs on an anonymised basis to help PCTs assess whether their local prices are a fair reflection of the national pattern
• sharing information gained from research to help commissioners
• the availability of support for commissioners from expert patients

Report

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Consultation report on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2010 (28th January 2010)

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2010 were published in draft for public consultation between 1 September 2009 and 23 November 2009. This report summarises responses received to the consultation.

Subject to Parliamentary approval it is anticipated these Regulations will come into force on 6 April 2010.
Response

Reforming the Medical Statement. Government response to the consultation on draft regulations: The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) (29th January 2010)
Between 28 May 2009 and 31 August 2009 the Government undertook a consultation on draft regulations that will support the revised medical statement. The aim is for the revised medical statement to allow a doctor to consider not only whether their patient is unfit for work, but also whether their patient may be able to do work based on the doctor’s assessment of the patient’s health condition; it also simplifies the suite of medical statements.

The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 come into effect on 6 April 2010.

This document describes the comments made by respondents and provides the Government’s response.
Response

PbR data assurance framework consultation for 2010/11 onwards (28th January 2010)
The Audit Commission launched a consultation on the Payment by Results (PbR) data assurance framework for 2010/11 onwards in Autumn 2009. This document is the response to the consultation.
Response

CONSULTATIONS

Charging arrangements for residential social care: consultation on issues concerning the current charging arrangements for residential social care (29th January 2010)
The Department of Health began a 12 Week consultation on 29 January 2010 concerning the charging arrangements for residential social care. Views are sought on proposed amendments to the residential charging arrangements suggested by a stakeholder group. The consultation will close on 23 April 2010.
Consultation

Sex and Relationships Education Guidance (25th January 2010)
The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the draft document, Sex and Relationships Education Guidance. This document provides guidance to maintained primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units (PRUs) in England on all matters relating to SRE, including how good quality SRE can be planned and delivered, how to develop an SRE policy and how to support the health and social needs of all pupils with regard to sex and relationships. It is relevant to all staff, particularly senior managers and those responsible for co-ordinating, teaching and supporting the delivery of SRE. Headteachers and governing bodies are required by law to have regard to the guidance.

Closing date for comments is 19th April 2010
Consultation

Support for All: Families and Relationships Green Paper (20th 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. The proposals 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.

Closing date for comments is 21st April 2010.
Consultation

Assessments of quality in 2010/11. Our proposals for the assessment of commissioners and providers of health and adult social care(2nd February 2010)
This consultation, from the Care Quality Commission, looks at their proposals for assessing quality in 2010-11 and beyond. The consultation details how they propose to assess the quality of:

• Councils as commissioners
• PCTs as commissioners
• NHS trusts and PCTs as providers
• Adult social care organisations as providers

Closing date for comments is 27th April 2010.
Consultation

DIET/NUTRITION

Citizens' forum findings on front-of-pack nutrition labelling (28th January 2010)
The Food Standards Agency has published the latest report of people's views on food labels and their awareness and understanding of front-of-pack nutrition labelling. This is part of a nationwide series of 'citizens' forums' set up to establish a dialogue with the public on food.
Report

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Can equity release help older home-owners improve their quality of life? (28th January 2010)
Around a million older home-owners have at least £100,000 of housing equity, yet they can’t afford the practical help they need to enjoy a good quality of life at home.

This Solutions document reveals how JRF has been working with local authorities, the equity release industry, voluntary bodies and relevant government departments to develop equity release packages that help older people access funds without threatening their entitlement to benefits.
Summary

END OF LIFE CARE

Delivering better care at end of life. The next steps (27th January 2010)
The document includes papers given at the Sir Roger Bannister Summit at Leeds Castle in November 2009 and an account of the debate generated. The summit, organised by The King's Fund covered issues including commissioning, hospice and hospital care, quality markers and challenges for providers. It identified 10 critical actions to help the successful implementation of the government's End of Life Care Strategy. This document should be invaluable for those seeking to improve the quality of the care offered to patients at the end of life.
Document

GENERAL PRACTICE

Reforming general practice boundaries (26th January 2010)
Reforming the way in which GP practice boundaries divide primary care services between patients is an attractive prospect for politicians and the general public.

The current government in England has stated that it intends to remove these boundaries altogether, while the Conservative Party has declared that patients should be able to register with the practice most convenient to them.

This review, from the British Medical Association (BMA), explores the many consequences and potential opportunities that implementing this proposal presents.
Document

The Future of General Practice in Northern Ireland (20th January 2010)
This strategy has been developed by the BMA(NI) and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP(NI)) on the future of general practice.
Strategy

HEALTH

Health Effects of Exposure to Ultrasound and Infrasound (1st February 2010)
The independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR), which reports to the Health Protection Agency, has reviewed the latest scientific evidence on the health effects of ultrasound (frequencies above 20 kilohertz) and infrasound (below 20 Hz).

The report finds that the available evidence does not suggest that diagnostic ultrasound affects mortality of babies during pregnancy or soon after birth. The evidence also does not suggest any effect on childhood cancer risk. There have, however, been some unconfirmed reports suggesting possible effects on the developing nervous system - for instance, on handedness of the child.

AGNIR concluded that there is no established evidence that diagnostic levels of ultrasound are hazardous. However, further research is needed to determine whether there are any long-term adverse health effects, especially following exposure of the unborn child.
Report

Warrington - using libraries to raise health awareness (21st January 2010)
Warrington Borough Council used Communities for Health (C4H) funding to run a health programme based in its libraries.
Information

Summary of insight research with middle aged adults (2nd February 2010)
Change4Life asked research company 2CV to carry out research to help inform a campaign aimed at adults. The research was carried out between July and October 2009 with middle aged men and women to investigate their habits and attitudes to diet, physical activity and weight status.
Summary

A liberal dose? Health and wellbeing: the role of the state (1st February 2010)
The role of the state in health and wellbeing is a complex and controversial issue. A difficult question for any government is how far to intervene in the choices and behaviour of individuals in order to promote their own, or others’, health. Good health is a vital ingredient of a good life – but so is freedom.

This report:

• sets out evidence for what the public think about this question;
• explores the key issues at stake and clarifi es principles for state intervention;
• suggests a new framework to guide decision making; and
• proposes a new narrative for future state intervention.

Report

Influencing public behaviour to improve health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)
This independent report builds on current approaches, using the latest evidence from areas such as behavioural economics and psychology, to suggest ways in which the Government could become more effective in this area, to help people to make healthier choices where they wish to do so.
Report

Enabling effective delivery of health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)
This independent report offers recommendations to the Secretary of State on how better to enable the delivery of improved health and wellbeing. The terms of reference for this report requested an assessment of the current opportunities and barriers in delivery systems, to identify where practical changes could be made to improve effectiveness.
Report

HEALTH AND SOCIAL C ARE

Engaging and responding to your community: a brief guide to Local Involvement Networks (22nd January 2010)
Local Involvement Networks (LINks) exist in every local authority area of England to give people more influence over how their local health and social care services are planned and delivered.

This guide is for health and social care managers and explains more about LINks. It outlines how, through proactive engagement you can better understand the needs of your community. Working with your LINk should be a key part of commissioning, running and reviewing health and social care services.
Leaflet

IMMUNISATION

Annual HPV vaccine uptake in England: 2008/09 (29th January 2010)
A summary of HPV vaccination uptake across England at PCT, SHA and national level for the first year of the programme. This includes additional data from Devolved Authorities and comparisons with available international equivalent programmes.
Report

Changes to the Childhood Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (19th January 2010)
A letter to immunisation leads and coordinators to inform them of a replacement vaccine that will be introduced into the childhood routine immunisation programme in the spring.
Letter

Shingles vaccine moves a step closer (29th January 2010)
People aged between 70 and 79 could be offered protection against shingles for the first time as a vaccination programme moved a step closer the Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said today.

The move follows a recommendation made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that the vaccine should be offered to this age group if it can be bought at a price which makes the programme cost-effective.
Information

INFORMATION GOVERNANCE

Checklist for reporting, managing and investigating information governance serious untoward incidents (25th January 2010)
This document provides guidance for all NHS staff in managing information governance serious untoward incidents. It should be used in conjunction with previous issued guidance and local guidance issued by the SHAs.
Document

LEARNING DISABILITIES

Healthcare for people with learning disabilities: recommendations of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (27th January 2010)
The Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman's report, 'Six Lives', highlighted failings in health and social care services that led to premature and avoidable deaths of people with learning disabilities. These letters from David Behan and Anne Williams to SHA chief executives and Directors of Adult Social Services respectively set out the action needed to respond to the recommendations set out in the 'Six Lives' report. Directors of Adult Social Services are reminded of the need to work in partnership with NHS colleagues when reviewing and reporting progress on implementation of the Ombudsmen's recommendations. SHAs are asked to report on progress by March 2010.
Letters

Valuing people now: real jobs for people with learning disabilities (20th January 2010)
The Department of Health have today issued a letter from the National Director for Learning Disabilities to Directors of Adult and Children's social Services and Chief Executives of Local Authorities, Trusts and SHAs. This is an update on the Valuing Employment Now resource pack and a reminder of the business case for investment in supported employment. Employment will remain a top priority.
Letter

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Sexuality - the new agenda (2nd February 2010)
“Sexuality – the new agenda” emphasises the need for a corporate approach to promoting equality. Once seen as a fringe issue of little relevance to the core business of local authorities, sexuality has been brought centre stage by recent legislative developments.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual equality is coming of age and can no longer be seen as an optional extra. Many successful initiatives have been undertaken by local authorities throughout England and Wales.

This publication aims to cover:

• service delivery and customer care
• community development and involvement
• local authority employees
• monitoring and evaluation.

Publication

Tackling Domestic Violence (28th January 2010)
About one in four women can become victims of domestic abuse. For many, the crime will go unreported and unnoticed. Three years ago Oxfordshire County Council and local partners decided more needed to be done to support women and their children. Their answer to the problem was the Domestic Abuse Champions Network.The scheme has created specialists in domestic abuse, in public and voluntary-sector organisations throughout the county.

There are now 250 trained champions from 35 different agencies. The champions include:

• police officers
• social workers
• housing staff
• midwives
• health visitors

Information