Health Management and Policy Alert

24/08/06 - Mental health observation, including constant observation – good practice guidelines

This best practice guidance, based on existing strategies, is for primary care trust and prison partnership boards to consider when devising, implementing and monitoring constant observation practice in establishments. The guidance is drawn from evidence based best practice guidelines and existing strategies across both the prison and mental health services, and whilst some of these guidelines were drawn up for acute mental health settings, they would equally apply across custodial services, where there is a duty of care placed on the service. (DH - letters)

23/08/06 - Choice of scan phase 3 - guidance

This paper, the third in a series of Choice and scan guidance documents, provides an update on Choice of Scan. In this phase, from 30 April 2007, patients waiting for the overwhelming majority of imaging scans (including MRI, CT, Ultrasound and DEXA scans) who do not have an appointment within 13 weeks will be offered the choice of having their scan at another provider within a maximum of 13 weeks.

(DH Publications)

23/08/06 - Evaluation of Your Health, Your Care, Your Say (YHYCYS)

An independent report evaluating the whole YHYCYS process has been published. Commissioned by the Department of Health, the evaluation study aimed to draw conclusions about the extent to which the methodology chosen and the delivery of YHYCYS met the objectives set, and draw out learning for future public engagement activity. An executive summary is also available.

(DH publications)

22/08/06 - Citizens Council report on health inequalities

The Citizens Council of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) met in London in June to discuss health inequalities. The Council has now produced the report of their meeting, which they will present at the NICE Board meeting in November 2006. In advance of that meeting, the public is invited to comment on the report, using a questionnaire provided. The deadline for completed questionnaires is 17 October 2006.

(NICE news)

22/08/06 - Minister announces physical activity role

 Public Health minister Caroline Flint is working across government on a new strategy to increase the public's fitness and activity levels. The strategy will build on and develop existing work to attempt to make the nation fitter and more active in the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

(Government News Network)

21/08/06 - Reward and recognition: the principles and practice of service user payment and reimbursement in health and social care (second edition)

This updated guide aims to support local health and social care organisations with the principles and practice of reimbursing and paying service users for their involvement. It aims to provide some consistency of approach and ensure that service users are treated fairly and appropriately according to their circumstances, so that they are able to make an informed choice about the arrangements concerning their involvement.

(DH publications)

18/08/06 - Strategic commissioning: a state of readiness assessment

Working drafts of self assessment tools for PCTs are available in the areas of maternity services and services for children and young people. These are based on the PCT fitness for purpose programme, and highlight key priorities for commissioning services that meet local population requirements and address health inequalities.These drafts are being shared with trusts at this early stage so that they might build them into plans for performance managing and commissioning these services in a wide-ranging and complex area, as well as informing the design of new commissioning structure. Feedback is welcomed on the drafts, particularly in relation to the SHA performance indicators to be highlighted in column 4 of the tool. Revised versions are planned for the autumn, together with early drafts of the relevant sections of the Commissioning Framework.

(DH publications)

18 Aug 2006 - Six new NHS hospital private finance initiative developments

Health Minister Andy Burnham announced six new NHS hospital private finance initiative (PFI) developments worth close to £1.5 billion. The first new hospital buildings are expected to open from 2010.

(Government News Network - Department of Health) (BBC News)

18 Aug 2006 - Healthcare Commission audit on compliance with Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

The Healthcare Commission has published results of an audit of NHS trusts’ websites to measure compliance with the requirement to publish information under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The audit suggests that most trusts have not met responsibilities to publish information under the Act.

(Healthcare Commission) (BBC News)

17 Aug 2006 - Department of Health guidance to improve the physical health of people with severe mental illness

Choosing Health provides best practice guidance to help primary care trusts plan for, design, commission and monitor services that will deliver improved physical health and well-being for people with severe mental illness. It describes appropriate leadership for a physical healthcare programme, roles and responsibilities of those involved and provides relevant case studies.

(DH Publications)