Health Management and Policy Alert

Study of primary care in A&E

The Primary Care Foundation is carrying out a study of the use of primary care clinicians within or alongside emergency departments. The aim is to understand the range of different models and report on the various elements that need to be in place for such initiatives to operate safely and successfully. To achieve this they are asking all emergency departments, commissioners and the primary care provider organisations in England to complete a survey. Comments must be submitted by 14 September 2009. (Primary Care Foundation - news)

Learning from Serious Incidents Requiring Investigation

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is seeking comments from interested organisations and individuals concerning the National Framework for Reporting and Learning from Serious Incidents Requiring Investigation. This document is the first release of a proposed new National Framework for the management of serious incidents occurring in the NHS and those parts of the independent sector which provide NHS services in England. The consultation closes on 13 November 2009. (NPSA - news)

Chemotherapy services in England: ensuring quality and safety

The final report from the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group aims to bring about a step change in the quality and safety of chemotherapy services for adult patients with either solid cancers or haematological malignancies and many of the recommendations are applicable in the care of children and young people. It highlights the need to improve both elective chemotherapy services and acute oncology services. (Department of Health - publications)

The team around the child and the lead professional: a guide for managers

This non-statutory guidance from the Children’s Workforce Development Council replaces the original guidance entitled ‘The lead professional: managers’ guide’ which was published in 2006. The new guidance has been updated and re-titled in order to reflect policy developments and include revisions identified in consultation with practitioners and managers across the children and young people’s workforce. The document also seeks to link together the processes and tools, to show how collaboratively they provide a package of support to help practitioners and managers implement integrated working in their practice. (Every Child Matters - publications)

Assessing complementary practice: building consensus on appropriate research methods

Despite the increasing popularity and use of complementary practice, it is difficult to assess its effectiveness. Lack of research - and lack of agreement on research methods - has led to criticism from branches of conventional medicine. The King’s Fund set up an advisory group, chaired by Professor Dame Carol Black, to consider how to develop and apply a robust evidence base for complementary practice. The group drew on the experience of a wide range of academics, researchers, practitioners and funders and have published this report on their findings. (The King’s Fund - publications)

Statistics

NHS dental statistics for England: 2008/09

General ophthalmic services: activity statistics for England and Wales, year ending 31 March 2009

Provisional clinical dental report, England and Wales, Q3, 31 December 2008 - experimental statistics

Statistics on NHS stop smoking services: England, April 2008 to March 2009

Genito-urinary medicine access monthly monitoring, June 2009

Deaths involving MRSA: England and Wales, 2008

Deaths involving Clostridium difficile: England and Wales, 2008

Payment by Results (PbR) update

This briefing details the latest PbR developments, and where the Foundation Trust Network is representing member views in response. (NHS Confederation - publications)

Mental Health Network factsheet

The Mental Health Network has produced this factsheet on key statistics and trends in mental health. It outlines relevant data available on: trends in morbidity and behaviour; wider societal changes and challenges; NHS budget and spending trends on mental health; service activity; quality, safety and user experience; staffing levels and staff satisfaction. (NHS Confederation - publications)

Launch of a national learning package to support the refocused Care Programme Approach (CPA) in mental health

The Centre for Clinical and Academic Workforce Innovation (CCAWI) at the University of Lincoln has been commissioned by the Department of Health to produce a learning resource supporting the mental health workforce to implement the refocused CPA. The first stage of the project is complete and is available free on their website. It consists of a trainer’s manual, a trainee’s manual, powerpoint presentations, a DVD and a work based assessment scheme. (CCAWI - news)

Consultation on the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice

The Department of Health is consulting on two separate but linked publications - a draft 'Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance', and a draft supporting document 'Prevention and control of infection in care homes'. This consultation is required due to changes introduced under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 involving the recent establishment of the Care Quality Commission and the introduction of a new registration framework for all providers of regulated activities in health care and adult social care in England. Responses are required by 6 November 2009. (Department of Health - publications)