Health Management and Policy Alert

Nations divided? An assessment of variations in access to cancer treatments for patients in England, Scotland and Wales

This report reveals the extent of cross-border inequalities in access to cancer treatments. It finds that patients in Wales are five times less likely to gain access to newer cancer drugs than those in England and in Scotland, the likelihood is three times less than English patients.

• Report
• Rarer Cancers Foundation - press release 

 

Home oxygen services (HOS)

This letter provides an update on the re-procurement of HOS in England, particularly the separately commissioned assessment and review services and future arrangements for the commissioning of the overall HOS contracts.

• Letter
• Department of Health - letters 

 

Fundamental review of data returns: a consultation on the recommendations of the review

The Government made a commitment in the White Paper to initiate a fundamental review of data returns, with the aim of culling returns of limited value. This will ensure that the NHS information revolution is fuelled by data that are meaningful to patients and clinicians when making decisions about care, rather than by what has been collected historically. This consultation document seeks views on the recommendations of the fundamental review. The consultation is open until 22 November 2011.

• Consultation document
• Impact assessments and further information

 

A summary of the health harms of drugs

This guide for drug and treatment professionals provides the most up to date scientific evidence on the health harms arising from licit and illicit substance misuse. The updated guide considers new drugs since the last guide was published, such as novel synthetic drugs and takes a more in-depth look at the potential harms of using more than one drug and the adulterants commonly added to illegal drugs.

• Guidance
• Technical document
• Department of Health - publications 

 

In it for the long haul: the challenge for public health

This report explores the key opportunities and challenges facing public health as a result of the Health and Social Care Bill

• Report
• IPPR - publications 

 

The 2011/12 NHS social care allocation return

The Department of Health made £648 million available in 2011/12 for transfer to local authorities for social care activities that also benefit health. This letter asks PCT finance directors for information to establish how the social care funding is being used. Data returns are required by 23 September 2011.

• Letter
• PCT data collection
• Department of Health - letters

Mobile health worker project: progress report

This project set out to capture quantifiable evidence to support the case for investment in the use of mobile devices in clinical care. Led by the National Clinical Lead for Mobile Solutions, a team of technical and clinical specialists supported by BT and Panasonic selected 11 pilot sites to examine the technical and business change aspects of mobile working deployment. This report summarises the findings.

• Report
• Department of Health - publications

Educating health visitors for a transformed service

This guidance suggests an approach for education commissioners, higher education institutions and lecturers to align education with a new service vision for health visiting.

• Guidance
• Department of Health - publications

Health visitor return to practice framework: a guide for education providers

In February 2011, the Government made a firm commitment to increasing the health visitor workforce by 2015. This is to be implemented through the Health Visiting Implementation Programme, which aims to deliver a new service vision for improving the health and well-being of children, families and communities.

• Framework
• Department of Health - publications

2011 NHS national staff survey

Sir David Nicholson has written to all chief executives in NHS trusts, Foundation Trusts and Primary Care Trusts in England. The letter provides information on how trusts can prepare for the launch of the survey in late September.

• Letter
• Department of Health - letters