What are the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards? (15th December 2008)
This leaflet provides a brief general introduction to the MCA DOLS and has been specifically designed for care homes and hospitals to help staff understand what the MCA DOLS will mean for them and for their service users.
Leaflet
Independent mental health advocates (19th December 2008)
From April 2009, statutory access to an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) will be available to patients subject to certain aspects of the Mental Health Act 1983. IMHAs are an important new safeguard that will help and support patients to understand and exercise their legal rights. IMHAs will be available to most detained patients as well as patients on supervised community treatment or guardianship. Other patients whose treatment is subject to the special safeguards provided by the Act, will also be eligible for the services of IMHAs.
Information
What are the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards? (15th December 2008)
This leaflet provides a brief general introduction to the MCA DOLS and has been specifically designed for care homes and hospitals to help staff understand what the MCA DOLS will mean for them and for their service users.
Leaflet
Independent mental health advocates (19th December 2008)
From April 2009, statutory access to an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA) will be available to patients subject to certain aspects of the Mental Health Act 1983. IMHAs are an important new safeguard that will help and support patients to understand and exercise their legal rights. IMHAs will be available to most detained patients as well as patients on supervised community treatment or guardianship. Other patients whose treatment is subject to the special safeguards provided by the Act, will also be eligible for the services of IMHAs.
Information
Engaging with patients via NHS Choices (December 2008)
This guide is aimed at helping trusts maximise the benefits of the patient feedback facility on NHS Choices.
Guide
National Training Programme (NTP) in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery: supporting NICE Technology Appraisal (2006) recommendations for laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer (17th December 2008)
As part of the Cancer Reform Strategy implementation plans the Department of Health and the National Cancer Action Team have developed and funded a programme to train colorectal surgeons to a level of competence in laparoscopic surgery to perform such procedures independently and safely.
Publication
The National Health Service Constitution: report of the Constitutional Advisory Forum to the Secretary of State for Health (11th December 2008)
The Department of Health published a draft NHS Constitution on 30 June 2008. The proposed Constitution will safeguard the core principles and values of the NHS for the next generation, whilst setting a clear direction for the future. It reaffirms rights to NHS services, free of charge and with equal access for all, and it enshrines patient rights to choice and to NICE-approved drugs recommended by clinicians.
Publication
The standard NHS contracts for acute hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services and supporting guidance (10th December 2008)
These documents represent Annex D to the NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10 and should be read in conjunction with The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2008/09 Annex D - Principles and rules for co-operation and competition December 2007.
Document
NICE Technology Appraisals (15th December 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is acknowledged as a world leader in its field, yet the prevailing media image of NICE is as a controversial mechanism for denying patients expensive new drugs. Teresa Poole looks at how NICE appraises new and existing drugs through clinical and economic evidence and looks at the impact of those appraisals, including difficulties with implementation of the recommendations. The briefing, published by King’s Fund, assesses recent policy proposals to address the system's perceived shortcomings, including speeding up appraisals, setting a suitable threshold for cost-effectiveness and overcoming the problem of 'postcode prescribing', where there are significant geographical disparities in the availability of individual drugs not covered by NICE guidance.
Briefing
Latest Implementation Tools (10th December 2008)
These are the latest implementation tools to help with previously published NICE Guidance.
Lung cancer (non-small-cell) - erlotinib Costing Statement and Audit Support
Metastatic spinal cord compression Costing Report, Costing Template and Slide Set
Transabdominal artificial bowel sphincter implantation for faecal incontinence Audit Support
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Implementation Advice
Febuxostat for the management of hyperuricaemia in people with gout Technology Appraisal TA164 (17th December 2008)
Febuxostat is recommended as a possible treatment for chronic hyperuricaemia in people with gout only if: they can't take the medicine allopurinol for medical reasons or the side effects of allopurinol are so bad that the person either has to stop taking it or can't be given the most effective dose. People who were already taking febuxostat when the guidance was issued should be able to carry on taking it until they and their healthcare professional(s) decide that it is the right time to stop treatment.
Guidance
Infliximab for the treatment of acute exacerbations of ulcerative colitis Technology Appraisal TA163 (17th December 2008)
Infliximab is recommended as a possible treatment for people with acute, severely active ulcerative colitis only if: ciclosporin is considered inappropriate for them, or they are taking part in a research study (clinical trial)
Guidance
When to suspect child maltreatment: guideline consultation (16th December 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on “ When to suspect child maltreatment” 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 10th February 2009.
Consultation
An RCN toolkit for school nurses. Developing your practice to support children and young people in educational settings (15th December 2008)
The publication aims to highlight the role of the school nurse and to disseminate best practice. It includes guidance on school health profiling, which are the assessment of a whole school's health with action plans and questionnaires. The title also covers infection control, travel health, safeguarding children and risk assessment.
Publication
Joint letter from CMO and CNO inviting health care professionals to order Change4Life support materials (18th December 2008)
This is a joint letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Nursing Officer to health care professionals, inviting them to support Change4Life, as well as order resources for the launch in January 2009.
Letter
Support materials
Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A cross-government research and surveillance plan for England (17th December 2008)
This document sets out the government plan for development of additional research and surveillance focused on obesity, overweight, and their determinants in England. The goal is to achieve co-ordinated action across government to deliver an evidence base for national policy-makers.
Document
Pandemic influenza: guidance for primary care trusts and primary care professionals on the provision of healthcare in a community setting in England (18th December 2008)
The purpose of this updated guidance is to assist primary care trusts (PCTs) in developing their plans for responding to an influenza pandemic. It is also intended to be a useful document for primary care professionals such as those working in general practice, community pharmacy and nursing, and for partner agencies providing services in the community setting.
Guidance
Pandemic influenza: guidance on preparing maternity services (10th December 2008)
This document identifies key issues and provides a guidance framework to enable and support the decisions on prioritisation that maternity services providers in hospitals; general practices and community care will need to take during a pandemic, covering the period from conception to just after birth.
Guidance
Report of the second phase of the review of NHS pathology services in England (18th December 2008)
The report of the second phase of the independent review of NHS pathology services in England has been published together the Department of Health's response to recommendations made by the review.
Report
Department of Health’s Response
Meeting the healthcare needs of Armed Forces personnel, their families and veterans (16th December 2008)
This new leaflet is designed to help regular Armed Forces personnel, their families and veterans to understand how to access the health services they need, and what to do if things go wrong. The leaflet applies to health services in England.
Leaflet
Graft versus host disease. A guide for families (December 2008)
Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), in which the cells from the bone marrow or stem cell donor (graft) react to the cells in the patient (host). This booklet has been written to give you simple, precise definitions of GvHD and to help you to understand the implications of GvHD and its possible treatments. The booklet is designed to compliment the information given by the nurses and doctors, who will be able to give you information specific to you/your child. You should never be afraid to ask questions.
Booklet
Reporting and Learning System (RLS) Data Summary - Issue 10 (November 2008)
This quarterly publication, from National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), sets out the number of patient safety incident reports received, and describes patterns and trends in these incidents.
Data Summary
Workbook to accompany Data Summary
Payment by Results 2009-10 road-testing package (10th December 2008)
This package is made available for the NHS to road-test the 2009-10 national tariff. Organisations need to consider all the materials provided prior to road-testing the new tariff. Key information is included in the guidance and associated annexes, which needs to be considered alongside the tariff.
Covering letter
Package
The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (16th December 2008)
The 2009 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (the scheme) is a non-contractual scheme, effective from the termination of the 2008 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (the 2008 PPRS) on 31st December 2008. The parties to this agreement are the Department of Health, acting on behalf of the health departments of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (the ABPI).
Document
Guidance on Maintaining Clear Sexual Boundaries: Expanding on the Principles of the Code of Ethics (9th December 2008)
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has published new guidance on maintaining appropriate sexual boundaries with both patients and their carers. The guidance covers a number of areas, including behaviours which may be perceived as sexually inappropriate, the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries, how to avoid breaches of sexual boundaries and the use of chaperones.
Guidance
Developing the NHS LifeCheck. A summary of the evidence base (19th December 2008)
This publication provides an overview of the research and evidence gathered at each stage of the development of NHS LifeCheck so far. It summarises NHS LifeCheck’s policy background and how it fits with and supports the wider healthcare reform agenda.
Publication
Invitation to Transforming community services: towards healthy change (17th December 2008)
The Transforming Community Services (TCS) programme is hosting a launch event in London on 13 January, designed to help strengthen and benchmark the business processes and staff capabilities of PCT community services. The TCS programme is a major element in the primary and community care vision as set out in ‘High Quality Care for All’.
Information
Resource allocation: weighted capitation formula - sixth edition (15th December 2008)
This is the sixth edition of a booklet which describes the weighted capitation formula used to inform revenue allocations to primary care trusts for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Booklet
Common Assessment Framework for Adults - A consultation on proposals to improve information sharing around multidisciplinary assessment and care planning (18th December 2008)
Letter alerting recipients to the start of the consultation in January 2008, and inviting contributions through the online consultation facility or by attending one of the regional consultation events being held over the coming months.
Information
National Child Measurement Programme: results from the school year 2007/08 (11th December 2008)
Summary Report
Data Tables
Online Database
Affordable Housing Supply, England, 2007-08 (18th December 2008)
Housing Statistics 2008 (11th December 2008)
Quarterly Reporting Results for MRSA bacteraemia, July - September 2008 (18th December 2008)
Tables
Press Release
Statutory Homelessness: 3rd Quarter (July to September) 2008, England (11th December 2008)
Report
Tables 1-10
Supplementary tables
Health Survey for England 2007: Healthy Lifestyles: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour (16th December 2008)
Summary of key findings
Volume 1: Report
Volume 2 - Methodology and Documentation
Monthly Digest of Statistics, December 2008 (22nd December 2008)
Community Care Statistics 2007-08: Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care for Adults, England - National Summary (18th December 2008)
Personal Social Services Survey of Adults Receiving Community Equipment and Minor Adaptations, 2007-08 (18th December 2008)
Report
Annex Tables
Cancer Statistics Registrations 2006 (18th December 2008)
Labour Market Statistics - December 2008 (17th December 2008)
The distribution of household income 1977 to 2006/07 (16th December 2008)
The redistribution of household income 1977 to 2006/07 (16th December 2008)
Birth Statistics 2007 (15th December 2008)
Diagnostics waiting times and activity data: month ending 31st October 2008 and diagnostics census for quarter ending September 2008 (10th December 2008)
Commissioner based
Provider based
Quarterly census
Cancer survival in England, patients diagnosed 2000-2004 followed up to 2005 (10th December 2008)
NHS Next Stage Review: what it means for the Third Sector (12th December 2008)
Summary of the Next Stage Review and how the third sector can be involved in local planning and service delivery.
Summary
Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future (10th December 2008)
Following the publication of the Welfare Reform Green Paper “No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility” in July 2008, the Department for Work and Pensions held a consultation. This White Paper sets out how they plan to take their proposals forward.
White Paper
