Health Management and Policy Alert

Delivering better care at end of life

This report includes papers given at the Sir Roger Bannister Summit, arranged for those responsible for implementing the government’s End Of Life Care Strategy. It covers issues including commissioning, hospice and hospital care, quality markers, challenges for providers, and an account of the debate generated and identifies ten actions to help the successful implementation of the strategy. (The King’s Fund - publications)

EEA bodies who will issue a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC)

Overseas visitors receiving clinically necessary treatment who fail to provide an EHIC, should be asked to obtain a PRC from the appropriate liaison body in the competent member state. A PRC provides the same access to free treatment as if it was an EHIC. PRC details should also be recorded and reported for a claim to be made. A list of providers of PRCs is now available. (Department of Health - publications)

Pathology programme update 2009

This report provides an update on progress in key work streams and developments over the past year in the Department of Health Pathology Programme. (Department of Health - publications)

Young people's sexual health: the National Chlamydia Screening Programme

This report by the Public Accounts Committee examines the delivery of the Chlamydia Screening Programme, improving the efficiency of services and the Department of Health’s approach to managing a national initiative in a devolved National Health Service.
(United Kingdom Parliament - news)

Postnote: diagnosing dementia

This briefing outlines current diagnostic practices, research into newer tools and service provision proposals that aim to increase early diagnosis of dementia. (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology - publications)

NHS reference costs 2008/9

These documents provide details of how, and on what, almost £48 billion of NHS expenditure was used in the 2008/9 financial year. (Department of Health - publications)

Equality Bill: making it work – ending age discrimination in services and public functions. A policy statement

This document summarises responses to the consultation document of the same name and sets out our plans for specific exceptions from the ban. For health and social care only, the document also initiates further debate on what uses of age should be able to continue, by whom and the legal way forward. (Government Equalities Office - news)

PbR data assurance framework: findings from the accident and emergency pilots

The Audit Commission reviewed accident and emergency (A&E) data for Payment by Results (PbR) purposes in eight acute trusts to see if they should extend the PbR data assurance framework to cover A&E activity. This briefing sets out the findings from the pilot review. (Audit Commission - health)

Final report of the Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision

This is the final report of the independent expert group on commissioning NHS infertility provision. The key points include:

· the development of a national tariff for regulated fertility services

· a project to share information on local prices and tariffs on an anonymised basis to help PCTs assess whether their local prices are a fair reflection of the national pattern

· sharing information gained from research to help commissioners

· the availability of support for commissioners from expert patients

(Department of Health - publications)

Engaging and responding to communities: a brief guide to Local Involvement Networks

Local Involvement Networks (LINks) exist in every local authority area of England to give people more influence over how their local health and social care services are planned and delivered. This guide is for health and social care managers and explains more about LINks. It outlines how, through proactive engagement you can better understand the needs of your community and how working with your LINk can be a key part of commissioning, running and reviewing health and social care services. (Department of Health - publications)