Health Management and Policy Alert

World class commissioning of primary care and communities services: guides for primary care trusts

These documents for commissioners are part of a series of supporting guides to help primary care trusts become skilled commissioners of primary care and community services. Documents include primary care and community: improving dental access and oral health and Primary care and communities services: improving GP services. (Department of Health - publications)

 

Pandemic influenza: guidance for commissioners and providers of social care

This guidance was produced to equip local authorities and other social care organisations with the tools and resources needed to plan for, and meet the challenges presented by pandemic influenza. (Department of Health - publications)

Elimination of mixed sex accommodation - new measures unveiled

A package of measures has been unveiled to eliminate mixed sex accommodation (MSA). The steps include a £100 million privacy and dignity fund to help SHAs get rid of mixed sex accommodation, improvement teams that can go into those hospitals that need more support and more focus on measuring the impact of MSA. From 2010/11, hospitals that still have MSA will face tough financial penalties. (Department of Health - press releases)

Dental national decontamination survey

This letter from Mr Barry Cockcroft, Chief Dental Officer for England, highlights a national survey the Department of Health is undertaking which looks at how the current quality of decontamination of surgical instruments in primary care dental services can be improved. (Department of Health - publications)

Provision of services for adults with tinnitus: a good practice guide

This document provides guidance on good practice, and evidence to help commissioners and service providers to make changes to the way that adult tinnitus services are delivered, and in particular to reduce waiting times for patients with the most common hearing difficulties. There is also guidance about improving access to audiology services in England. (Department of Health - publications)

Provision of adult balance services: a good practice guide

This document provides good practice and evidence to help commissioners and service providers to make changes to the way that adult balance services are delivered, and in particular to reduce waiting times for patients with the most common hearing difficulties. (Department of Health- publications)

Personal health budgets: first steps

This report sets out the principles of personal health budgets, reports on early lessons and invites expressions of interest in the pilot programme. 

(Department of Health- publications)

NHS Pay Modernisation in England: Agenda for Change

This report examines the implementation and costs of Agenda for Change and the implementation of the Knowledge and Skills Framework. It also assesses whether the intended benefits have been achieved and identifies some of the barriers to fully realising them. (National Audit Office- publications)

Improving services for substance abuse; diversity, and inpatient and outpatient and residential rehabilitation services

This review is one in a series of joint annual reviews that are designed to assess the provision and commissioning of drug treatment against key indicators. It has a particular emphasis on diversity, and inpatient and outpatient and residential rehabilitation services. (Healthcare Commission - press releases)

Young people and alcohol guidance: consultation

This consultation seeks views on alcohol guidance, advice and information for parents, children and young people. The views of children, young people, parents, carers and those organisations and professionals working with young people in health, children’s services and education settings, are particularly relevant. The closing date for comments is 23 April 2009. (Department for Children, Schools and Families - consultations)