Key Points – 8th August 200= 8

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Dep= artment of Health

the week: issue 57, 1 - 7 August 2008

This bulletin is published every Thursday= . It provides news, consultations and events for chief executives in the NHS and local authorities and their teams. It gives links to more information and resources, highlighting areas for action.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Bulletins/the= week/DH_086848

AHP bulletin issue 66, August = 2008

This page links to a monthly bulletin that provides a summary of the latest developments in the allied health professi= ons.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsa= ndstatistics/Bulletins/Alliedhealthprofessionalsbulletin/index.htm=

The National Health Service Constitution and Quick guide – versions in other languages=

The= proposed NHS Constitution is about safeguarding its core principles and values for t= he next generation, whilst setting a clear direction for the future. It reaffi= rms 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 b= y clinicians.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsan= dstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_085814

The National Child Measurement Programme

Thi= s page gives information on a programme in which children in reception and year si= x are weighed and measured during the school year. The programme informs local planning and delivery of services for children and gathers population-level surveillance data to allow analysis of trends in growth patterns and obesit= y. Guidance for primary care trusts has been added.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/Healthy= living/DH_073787

PL/CMO/2008/5: The MMR vaccina= tion catch-up programme [Letter]

Thi= s letter provides important information about the urgent action needed to reduce the risk of a measles epidemic

http://www.dh.= gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Professionalletters= /Chiefmedicalofficerletters/DH_086837

Learning network for vascular = checks [Letter]

This letter provides information about preventive checks that will be offered in 2009-10 to people aged between 40= and 74 to assess and manage risk of vascular disease.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsands= tatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_086820=

Seasonal Influenza Programme 2= 008/09 [Letter]

Thi= s letter provides an update on the current situation concerning supplies of seasonal influenza vaccine.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsands= tatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_086807=

MRSA screening - operational guidance [Letter]

This letter from the Chief Nursing Officer and the Director General of NHS Finance, Performance and Operations gives guidance to support NHS trusts in introducing MRSA screening for all electi= ve patients by the end of March 2009.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsands= tatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_086687=

Healthy living – updated=

This page gives information on promoting healthy lifestyles for people in England and Wales, including initiatives to help people quit smoking, eat better and exercise more, as w= ell as health screening projects and training and skills p= rogrammes. Information on the national child measurement programm= e has been added.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/Healthy= living/index.htm

Ensuring = PbR supports delivery of effective cancer services

This is a review of payment by results tariffs, what impact they have on cancer services and how they could be developed to better support cancer services.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsan= dstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_086877

Towards a skills academy for s= ocial care: the proposal for Na= tional Skills Academy status

This publication outlines the content of = the expression of interest in becoming a national skills academy for social care that was submitted to the Learning and Skills Council. It gives details of = the proposed programmes, structure and way of worki= ng together with an updated timetable.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/DH_08= 6796

Mental health payment by resul= ts (PbR) development clinical conference [Letter]

Invitation letter to the Mental Health Payment by Results (PbR) Development Clinical Conference to be held on 29 September 2008.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsands= tatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_086736=

Evaluation of information prescriptions

Report of an independent evaluation of pilot sites to test and provi= de evidence on the effectiveness and impact of information prescriptions on us= ers, carers, professionals and organisations, including the voluntary sector.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsan= dstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_086889

NHS Bursary Scheme - ninth edi= tion

This document outlines the NHS bursary scheme's support arrangements for the academic years starting on or after 1 September 2008 and before 1 September 2009.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsan= dstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_086818

National Health Service Litiga= tion Authority (Primary Medical Services - General Practice Systems of Choice Primary Care Trust - Practice Agreement - Dispute Resolution) Directions 20= 08

These directions come into force on 8 Aug= ust 2008. They apply in = England.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstati= stics/Publications/PublicationsLegislation/DH_086866<= /p>

Renal supportive and end of li= fe care: a one day workshop organised by the Department of Health on Monday 14 April 2008

Thi= s is the report of a workshop on renal supportive and end of life care held on 14 Ap= ril 2008. The aim of the workshop was to consult on the possible contents of an action plan to assist the NHS in implementing the renal national service framework over the next 18 months to two years. The action plan will be published later in 2008.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsan= dstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_086822

ESAC-Pr New Technologies Worki= ng Group: report on prion inactivating agents=

The= report gives advice on the applicability of the various anti-= prion technologies that are on, or close to market as part of the surgical instru= ment decontamination cycle.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsan= dstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_086805

= DH news releases 4-8 August 2008

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/enviro= nment/dh/

New health IT leaders announced

The new leadership team to take forward t= he Government's flagship health IT programme was t= oday announced by the Department of Health.

Launch of NHS Constitutional Advisory Forum

A group of leading health figures will ad= vise the Department of Health on how to most effectively engage people in the consultation process for the NHS Constitution, Health Minister and Joint Ch= air Ivan Lewis has announced.

National MMR catch up campaign launched

The Department of Health is making extra vaccine and more funds available to help local health trusts put in place a campaign to vaccinate every child up to the age of 18 against measles.

£96 million boost to improve healthcare and employment prospects for those with learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities are to benefit from £96million in Government funding that will help provide = them with better healthcare, community support and employment prospects, Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis has announced.

Statistical Press notice: Dental Reform Monitoring - quarterly update

Statistics for april= -June 2008 have been released by the Department of Health:

Diagnostics waiting times & activity data: month ending June 2008

June 2008 statistics have been released t= oday by the Department of Health:

Extra money to help more mums breastfeed

£2 million extra pledged for 2008 d= uring World Breastfeeding Week

Parents will be told if their children are overweight

From September this year, parents of chil= dren who have been weighed and measured at school could automatically receive th= eir child's results in a bid to get parents to be more aware about healthy lifestyles, and help their children achieve a healthy weight, Health Minist= er Ivan Lewis announced today.

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Statistics

Diagnostics statistics - Provider-based monthly diagnostics

The data for June 2008 has been added.

http:/= /www.performance.doh.gov.uk/diagnostics/provider.html=

Dental Contracts statistics

Dental Reform Monitoring for quarter endi= ng June 2008

http:= //www.performance.doh.gov.uk/dental_contracts/index.htm

Ass= ociation of Public Health Observatories

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Hea= lthcare Commission

Newsletter August 2008

http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk//newsandevents/newsletter.cfm?c= it_id=3D6534&FAArea1=3DcustomWidgets.content_view_1&usecache=3Dfals= e

NHS Networks

Pri= mary Care Commissioning

Food Standards Agency

Food Standards Agency annual r= eport 2007-08

The report demonstrates how the Food Standards Agency has worked to protect public health. It outlines the agency’s record on food safety, explains how it provides expert scientific and evidence-based advice, and looks at its work on eating for health.

http:/= /www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/annualreport0708.pdf=

Consumer attitudes to food sta= ndards: Wave 8 - UK final report

This report presents the findings of rese= arch to learn more about how people’s eating habits are determined by their attitudes towards food and health, rather than by other demographic characteristics, such as age and gender.

http://= www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/cas2007ukreport.pdf

Proposals to revise the volunt= ary salt reduction targets [|Closing date: 31 October 2008]

This consultation seeks views on proposal= s to revise the UK targets for the levels of salt in key categories of manufactured foods, to revise some product category descriptions and to revise the monitoring framework for the salt reduction policy.

http://www.food.gov.uk/consultations/ukwideconsults/2008/saltre= ductiontargets

Com= munities and Local Government

Communities in control: Real p= eople, real power: Improving local accountability – Consultation [Closing da= te: 30 October 2008]

This consultation covers the implementati= on of the overview and scrutiny provisions in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. It seeks views on how to develop overview a= nd scrutiny powers to hold local officers to account and how to facilitate the work of councillors.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/loc= alaccountability

Cab= inet Office

National Risk Register

The National Risk Register sets out an assessment of the likelihood and potential impact of a range of different r= isks that may directly affect the UK, as promised in the National Security Strategy. The publication of informati= on on these risks, previously held confidentially within government, is intend= ed to encourage public debate on security and help prepare for emergencies.

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/national_risk_register.aspx

BBC= Health

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/=

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You can also read Key Points, and other info-rela= ted alerts and messages, on the HILS (Health Information & Library Service)= weblog at:

www.cehi-hils.org.uk

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Sue Austin & Sue Graham=

tel= : 0191 4971460 = 0191 5297209

Librarian/Knowledge Managers

email library@sotw.nhs.uk

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