LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Final Score - The impact of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment of local government 2002-08 (5th March 2009)
This report marks the end of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) and looks back over its seven years. Final Score considers the impact CPA has had on improving council services, governance and financial management since it was first introduced in 2002.
Report
Summary

CPA - The harder test (5th March 2009)
This report sets out the 2008 Comprehensive Performance Assessment scores for single tier and county councils, and marks the final year of CPA. CPA measures how well councils deliver services for local people and communities. The report contains comparisons of levels of performance since the last set of results was published in 2007, and also looks at performance over the four years since CPA - The harder test was introduced in 2005.
Report
2008 Scores

LONG-TERM CONDITIONS

Impact assessment for implementing personalised care planning for people with long-term conditions (including guidance to NHS and social care) (2nd March 2009)

MATERNITY/MIDWIFERY

Saving Babies Lives Report 2009 (5th March 2009)
The report, from Sands, aims to bring together in one document the range of issues which are key to reducing stillbirths and neonatal deaths in the UK. It argues that the numbers of baby deaths is unacceptable, and that failure to recognise the problem at all levels means that little is being done to improve the situation. It highlights the devastating impact of a baby’s death on the parents, their family and friends, and why we believe that many of these deaths could be prevented.
Report

MEDICINES

The Medicines (Pharmacies) (Responsible Pharmacist) Regulations 2008: guidance (27th February 2009)
Factual guidance on new regulations relating to the sale and supply of medicines from registered pharmacies.
Guidance

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: A guide for family, friends and unpaid carers (6th March 2009)
This booklet contains all the information that family, friends and unpaid carers need to understand what the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguides is all about. It helps them to:

• Understand their rights to have a say in their friends or family member's care
• Ensures that all possible steps are being taken to protect the interests of their friend or family member while they are being deprived of their liberty.

Booklet

Making decisions: The Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service (6th March 2009)
This document sets out the role and responsibilities of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This edition has been updated to reflect the requirements of the MCA and MCA DOLS legislation.
Document

Impact Assessment of the Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Monitoring and Reporting; and Assessments - Amendment) Regulations 2009 (4th March 2009)

Diversion (23rd February 2009)
Diversion finds that many opportunities for diversion are being missed and too little is being done to ensure that offenders with mental health problems make continuing use of community mental health services.

This report, from Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, looks at the evidence on outcomes and the effectiveness of diversion, it includes information from site visits and looks at whether diversion is good value for money.
Report

Doing what works (18th February 2009)
Doing What Works, published by Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, shows that Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is by far the most effective way of helping people with severe and enduring mental health problems to gain and retain the jobs they want. But it is only effective if all seven of its key principles are in place.
Briefing

Improving the patient experience: sharing success in mental health and learning disabilities - the King's Fund's Enhancing the Healing Environment Programme (9th March 2009)
Since 2000, the Department has supported the King's Fund's Enhancing the Healing Environment, a nurse-led environmental improvement programme. Following the success of initial projects in London, the programme was extended to 69 Trusts in England including acute, mental health, learning disability and primary care trusts.
Report

The Legal Aspects of the Care and Treatment of Children and Young People with Mental Disorder: A Guide for Professionals (January 2009)
This report, published by National Institute for Mental Health in England, provides guidance about how to provide mental healthcare for children and young adults within the legal and policy framework.
Report

NHS

Review of NHS ISA (UK and I) 260 Reports (19th February 2009)
This report sets out the findings of the Audit Commission's analysis of financial reporting issues detailed by auditors in the 2007/08 ISA 260 (annual governance) reports. This review was undertaken in order to identify areas of risk to support planning, training and guidance for auditors and NHS bodies through chief accountants' workshops for 2008/09 by identifying common financial reporting issues. The report will also help to identify areas which are a potential risk in financial management and budgeting terms.
Report

NHS reference costs 2008/09: collection guidance (6th March 2009)
This document outlines the mandatory requirements for the 2008/09 reference costs collection. It updates and supersedes previous costing guidance. It should be read in conjunction with the latest version of the NHS costing manual.
Guidance

NHS Costing manual 2008/09 (6th March 2009)

This manual sets out the principles and practice of costing to be applied in the NHS. It is not just designed to support the production of the National Schedule of Reference Costs and through this, the national tariff, but should also be used in developing and monitoring service and financial frameworks, as well as developments in and the monitoring and implementation of National Service Frameworks.
Manual

Sexual orientation: a practical guide for the NHS
This document gives practical advice to enable NHS organisations to address their responsibilities relating to sexual orientation and employment or healthcare delivery.
Guidance

Impact assessment of regulations to require NHS bodies to register with CQC and meet a requirement on HCAI in 2009 (26th February 2009)

Statement on Internal Control 2008/2009: disclosures and related documents (25th February 2009)
Clarification on how and where organisations should make disclosures or qualifications on their Statement on Internal Control (SIC) about risk management and review processes being in place for the full year, gaps in assurance frameworks, NHS Pension Scheme compliance and significant control issues for 2008/09.
Information

Acute health clinical costing standards 2009/10 (24th February 2009)
Clinical costing is often known by its other name of Patient Level Information and Costing or “PLICS”. It relates to the primary functions of health providers, which are to diagnose and treat patients. Clinical costing is derived from tracing resources used by an individual patient in diagnosis and treatment and calculating the expenditure of those resources using the actual costs incurred by the organisation. These standards apply to the provision of acute care.
Guidance

Real-time Patient Feedback Project (5th March 2009)
This report draws on the experiences of West Midlands PCTs and provider organisations as well as those further afield to build up a picture of current practice in the NHS and in private industry. The report notes that while the use of real-time methodologies has a definite and beneficial role within engagement, organisations must ensure it is part of an overall strategy and that robust processes are in place for co-ordinating data collection, its collation, analysis and dissemination. The report also emphasises the need for feedback to result in action and for that action to be publicised.
Report

NICE

Ovarian cancer: draft scope consultation (18th February 2009)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Ovarian Cancer for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Closing date for comments is 18th March 2009.
Consultation

Colorectal cancer: draft scope consultation (18th February 2009)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Colorectal Cancer for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Closing date for comments is 18th March 2009.
Consultation

Promoting young people's social and emotional wellbeing in secondary education: guidance consultation (18th February 2009)
NICE is developing public health intervention guidance promoting social and emotional wellbeing in secondary education. Closing date for comments is 18th March 2009.
Consultation

Hysteroscopic sterilisation by tubal cannulation and placement of intrafallopian implant (24th February 2009)
NICE has reviewed this guidance that was published in August 2004 and is reassessing the procedure. Closing date for comments is 24th February 2009.
Consultation

Corneal endothelial transplantation (24th February 2009)
The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered this procedure and NICE has now issued a consultaion document about its safety and efficacy. Closing date for comments is 24th March 2009.
Consultation

Insertion of individually magnetic resonance imaging designed unicompartmental interpositional implant in osteorthritis of the knee (24th February 2009)
The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered this procedure and NICE has now issued a consultation document about its safety and efficacy. Closing date for comments is 24th March 2009.
Consultation

Percutaneous endoscopic laser cervical discectomy (24th February 2009)
NICE has reveiwed this guidance that was published in June 2004 and has now issued a consultation document about its safety and efficacy. Closing date for comments is 24th March 2009.
Consultation

Percutaneous mitral valve leaflet repair for mitral regurgitation (24th February 2009)
The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee reconsidered this procedure in light of comments received during the initial consultation in January 2009. Nice have now issued a second consultation document about its safety and efficacy. Closing date for comments is 24th March 2009.
Consultation

Depression in adults (update): draft guideline consultation (24th February 2009)
A clinical practice guideline on Depression in adults (update) is being developed for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Closing date for comments is 21st April 2009.
Consultation

Endovascular stent - grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneuryms Technology appraisal TA167 (25th February 2009)
Endovascular stent-grafts are recommended as a possible treatment for people with abdominal aortic aneurysms if:

• the aneurysm is below their kidney and has not burst
• surgery is appropriate, and
• the person and their specialist have decided the risks and benefits of this and other procedures and decided that endovascular stent-grafts are appropriate

Guidance

Amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir for the treatment of influenza (review of existing guidance No. 58) Technology appraisal TA168 (25th February 2009)
NICE has said that its receommendations about oseltamivir and zanamivir should not reduce efforts to give vaccination to people for whom it is recommended in national guidelines. The guidance does not cover widespread epidemics.
Guidance

Advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and treatment Clinical guideline CG81 (25th February 2009)
This guidance updates and replaces NICE technology appraisal guidance 63 (published May 2003), 54 (published December 2002) and 30 (published September 2001). The advice in the NICE guideline describes the tests, treatment, care and support that patients with advanced breast cancer should be offered. It does not specifically describe the care of patients with early breast cancer or those with rare or non-cancerous tumours of the breast.
Guidance

Early and locally advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and treatment Clinical guideline CG80 (25th February 2009)
The advice in this guideline covers some of the tests and treatments that patients with early and locally advanced breast cancer should be offered, in particular:

• reducing the amount of surgery under your arm
• breast reduction when breast conservation is not possible
• chemotherapy and endocrine treatments
• biological treatments

Guidance

Rheumatoid arthritis: the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults Clinical guideline CG79 (25th February 2009)
The advice in the NICE guideline covers the care of adults with rheumatoid arthritis. It does not specifically look at other types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis.
Guidance

Extracorporeal photopheresis for Crohn's disease Interventional procedures guidance IPG288 (25th February 2009)
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is sometimes associated with other complications such as skin rashes and arthritis. In extracorporeal photopheresis blood is removed from the patient, then the white blood cells are separated from the whole blood, treated with ultraviolet light and re-infused into the patient.
Guidance

Intraocular lens insertion for correction of refractive error, with preservation of the natural lens Interventional procedure guidance IPG289 (25th February 2009)
Short-sightedness is the inability to see clearly at a distance. Eyesight can usually be corrected by wearing spectacles or contact lenses. Insertion of a clear plastic lens in front of the existing lens is a procedure that aims to improve vision in short-sightedness.
Guidance

Laparoscopic cystectomy Interventional procedure guidance IPG287 (25th February 2009)
This procedure is used to treat:

• invasive bladder carcinoma
• ongoing incontinence due to paraplegia, where catheterisation results in infection and ongoing leakage
• refractory complications in a defunctionalized bladder, where urinary diversion is already established

Guidance

Needle and syringe programmes: providing people who inject drugs with injecting equipment Public health guidance PH18 (25th February 2009)
The recommendations relate to people over the age of 18 who inject illicit substances and non-prescribed anabolic steroids. The guidance complements and supports, but does not replace NICE guidance on drug and substance misuse.
Guidance

Commissioning Guides (February 2009)
NICE have published 2 new commissioning guides:

• Insuline Pump Therapy Service

and

• Service for the diagnosis and management of ADHD in adults

Consultation on the Topic Selection Process for Technology Appraisals (2nd March 2009)

This consultation document seeks views on some proposed changes to the way in which technology appraisal topics are selected for referral to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Closing date for comments is 22nd May 2009.
Consultation

Venous thromboembolism - reducing the risk: guideline consultation (2nd March 2009)
A clinical practice guideline on venous thromboembolism – reducing the risk 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 27th April 2009.
Consultation

Depression in chronic health problems: draft guideline consultation (3rd March 2009)
A clinical practice guideline on Depression in chronic health problems 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 April 2009.
Consultation

Breast cancer (advanced or metastatic) - lapatinib: final appraisal determination (5th March 2009)
After considering the feedback from consultation, the Appraisal Committee has prepared a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on Lapatinib for breast cancer (for use in women with previously treated advanced or metastatic breast cancer) and submitted it to the Institute.

The FAD has been sent to the formal consultees for this appraisal who have 15 working days to consider whether they wish to appeal against it. Subject to any appeal by consultees, the FAD may be used as the basis for the Institute's guidance on the use of the appraised technology in the NHS in England and Wales. The appeal period will close on 27th March 2009.
FAD

Venous thromboembolism - rivaroxaban: final appraisal determination (5th March 2009)
After considering the feedback from consultation, the Appraisal Committee has prepared a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on rivaroxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism and submitted it to the Institute.

The FAD has been sent to the formal consultees for this appraisal who have 15 working days to consider whether they wish to appeal against it. Subject to any appeal by consultees, the FAD may be used as the basis for the Institute's guidance on the use of the appraised technology in the NHS in England and Wales. The appeal period will close on 27th March 2009.
FAD

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours - sunitinib: appraisal consultation (5th March 2009)
The Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a single technology appraisal (STA) of sunitinib for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours and provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted by the manufacturer and the views put forward by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and by the clinical specialist and patient expert representatives nominated for this appraisal by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators. The Committee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of sunitinib for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Closing date for comments is 26th March 2009.
Consultation

Hepatitis B - tenofovir disoproxil fumarate: appraisal consultation (5th March 2009)
The Department of Health asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a single technology appraisal (STA) of tenofovir disoproxil for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted by the manufacturer and the views put forward by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and by the clinical specialist and patient expert representatives nominated for this appraisal by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators. The Committee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of tenofovir disoproxil for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Closing date for comments is 26th March 2009.
Consultation

Providing public information to prevent skin cancer: consultation on the evidence (6th March 2009)
NICE was asked by the Department of Health (DH) to develop public health intervention guidance for the NHS and local authorities on the prevention of skin cancer in the general public with specific reference to:

• provision of information
• physical changes to the environment
• supply of sun protection resources

Registered stakeholders are now invited to comment on the evidence that has been assembled to inform the development of the first piece of guidance (Provision of information). Closing date for comments is 3rd April 2009.
Consultation

Psychosis with substance misuse: scope consultation (10th March 2009)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Psychosis with substance abuse for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to submit comments on the scope and may suggest clinical questions that could be answered in the guideline. Closing date for comments is 7th April 2009.
Consultation

Latest implementation tools (11th March 2009)
Tools to aid implementation of recently published guidance.

Breast cancer - early: Costing tool and Slide set

Breast cancer - advanced: Costing tool and Slide set

Rheumatoid arthritis in adults: Costing tool

Influenza (treatment) zanamivir, amantadine and oseltamivir: Costing tool and Audit Support

Abdominal aortic aneurysms - endovascular stent-grafts: Costing tool and Audit Support

Needle and syringe programmes: Slide set

NURSING

Breaking down barriers, driving up standards. The role of the ward sister and charge nurse (26th February 2009)
Ward sisters and charge nurses have many roles, but their responsibility is clear – to oversee patient care on a ward. This Royal College of Nursing report looks at how the role is working across different types of hospital trusts in England, including mental health, children and adult wards. The importance of the ward sister and charge nurse role applies universally, and where the role is supervisory, patient care benefits. The RCN worked with focus groups of charge nurses and ward sisters across England and the findings were validated by further groups of ward sisters and nurse directors. The report findings highlight that work urgently needs to done to strengthen and support the role for the delivery of high-quality nursing.
Report

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Communities and Local Government Committee - Communities and Local Government's Departmental Annual Report 2008 - Second Report of Session 2008-09 (4th March 2009)

Joint Committee on Human Rights - UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Government Response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2008-09 - Sixth Report of Session 2008-09 (6th March 2009)

European Union Committee - Healthcare across EU borders: a safe framework - 4th Report of Session 2008-09 (24th February 2009)
Vol. I
Vol. II

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Get well soon without antibiotics non-prescription pad (20th February 2009)
These 'non-prescriptions' can be given to patients who do not need a prescription for antibiotics.
Leaflet

How safe is your child at home? (February 2009)
Every year around one million children are taken to hospital after an accident at home. The vast majority of these accidents happen to under-fives.

This leaflet offers top tips room by room for parents and carers, and a few simple safety measures that can be used around the home to make it a safer place.
Leaflet

PATIENT SAFETY

Organisation Patient Safety Incident Reports (6th March 2009)
From today, the National Patients Safety Agency (NPSA) will publish Organisation Patient Safety Incident Reports from each NHS Trust or local health board in England and Wales.
More information
Individual Trust Reports

New guidance following laxative errors in NHS (19th February 2009)
This guidance, from the NPSA, comes after 218 patient safety incidents and one death, between November 2003 and January 2009 involving oral bowel cleansing solutions.
Guidance

PHARMACY

:Pharmacy Practice 2008. Medicines focussed & Patient Centred. Pharmacy Practice Framework (17th February 2009)
This framework, published by Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, defines the core common roles expected of a newly qualified pharmacist and aims to demonstrate their contribution to health and health care delivery.
Framework

The Contribution of Pharmacy to making Britain a Safer Place to Take Medicines (18th February 2009)
This report, from Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, calls for a five to 10 year action plan to be drawn up by pharmacists and other key healthcare providers to improve medicines safety. It also makes recommendations for further practice.
Report

Impact assessment of pharmacy market exit policy (18th February 2009)

POVERTY

Poverty, inequality and policy since 1997 (25th February 2009)
This research shows what effect policies introduced since 1997 have had on reducing poverty and inequality. It offers a considered assessment of impacts over a decade:

• How did policies change, before 1997 and since then?
• What evidence is there of impacts on key outcomes?
• What gaps or problems remain or emerged?

Summary

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

Impact assessment of NHS LIFT guidance for PCTs (2nd March 2009)

Citizens Advice Bureau mystery shopping of PCT helplines (19th February 2009)
Every primary care trust in England now runs a dental access helpline to help match up patients looking for NHS care with a dentist in their area. In August and September 2008, the Citizens Advice Bureau Service (CAB) undertook a mystery shopping exercise of 55 dental helplines across England, to see how effective these helplines are in providing patients with the information and advice they need to find a dentist. This is the report of the exercise.
Report

PROVIDERS

Final impact assessment: regime for unsustainable NHS providers (18th February 2009)

SOCIAL CARE

LAC (DH)(2009)1: Transforming Adult Social Care (5th March 2009)
This Local Authority Circular sets out information to support councils and their partners in the ongoing transformation of adult social care as set out in Putting People First (2007), and preceding policy documents. It builds on Local Authority Circular (DH)(2008)1 and sets out, and reinforces the details of how the ring-fenced Social Care Reform Grant should continue to be used to help councils to redesign and reshape their systems over the remaining 2 years of the Grant. It also updates the information and support available to councils to drive the transformation of adult social care.
Circular

Transforming adult social care: access to information, advice and advocacy (March 2009)
The Transforming Adult Social Care Programme Board, the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS), the Local Government Association (LGA), the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and Counsel and Care commissioned research on information, advice and advocacy (IAA) for adult services and the delivery of Putting People First (2007).

This review aims to appraise the activity and research evidence in adult social care. It also examines whether there are any models of service provision which are considered good practice. The review draws together evidence from a range of sources including primary and secondary research.
Executive Summary

STATISTICS

NHS Cancer waiting times figures, October to December 2008 (27th February 2009)

NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting times figures, 31 January 2009 (27th February 2009)

NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting events, quarter ended 31 December 2009 (27th February 2009)

NHS cancelled operations, quarter ending 31 December 2008 (27th February 2009)

Critical care beds, January 2009 Census (27th February 2009)

Referral to treatment statistics (admitted patients, non-admitted patients and incomplete RTT times), December 2008 (26th February 2009)

Hospital Outpatient Activity 2007/08 (27th February 2009)

General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales, April 2008-September 2008 (26th February 2009)

NHS Dental Statistics for England, Quarter 2: 30 September 2008 (26th February 2009)

Cancer survival improves in deprived areas (26th February 2009)

Health Statistics Quarterly No. 41 Spring 2009 (26th February 2009)

Reporting MRSA infection on death certification (26th February 2009)

Conception rate increases among under 18s (26th February 2009)

Quarterly conceptions to women under 18 - Quarter 4 2007 (26th February 2009)

Under 18 Conception Statistics 1998-2007 (26th February 2009)

Hospital Episode Statistics HES (admitted patient care) England 2007/08 (25th February 2009)

Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, February 2009 (25th February 2009)

SUBSTANCE MISUSE

Getting to grips with substance misuse among young people. The data for 2007/08 (March 2009)
Reliable statistics on young people under 18 who receive specialist support for drug and alcohol misuse have been scarce. To address this, the National Treatment Agency (NTA) started recording data in 2005/06. This report summarises the data for 2007/08, together with information about the different types of interventions and the context in which these young people misuse substances. This is thebaseline year for reporting this data. The NTA will continue to enhance the range and quality of this data in future years, in order to obtain a better understanding of drug and alcohol misuse among young people who access specialist substance misuse services. This in turn will help the NTA improve the support available to them.
Document

WORKFORCE/WORKPLACE

Medical Training Initiative (26th February 2009)
The Medical Training Initiative is designed to allow a small number of doctors to enter the UK from overseas to benefit from training and development in NHS services, before returning to their home countries. It can support the UK’s international development objectives and helps foster exchange programmes between NHS and overseas organisations.

This document provides a general overview of the scheme.
Guide

WORLD HEALTH

World Health Organization: UK institutional strategy 2008-13 (24th February 2009)
The UK Government has recently agreed the first cross-Government Institutional Strategy (IS) with the World Health Organization (WHO). The overall aim of the strategy is to set out how the UK and WHO will work together, and to provide a basis for multi-year (2008-2013) core funding relationship with WHO.
Strategy