Archive
UK — Waiting times for suspected and diagnosed cancer patients: quarter ending June 2011
Waiting times for suspected and diagnosed cancer patients: quarter ending June 2011
Source: Department of Health
The key results for outpatient services and first definitive treatments show that, in England during the period April to June 2011:
- Two week wait:
o 95.4% of people were seen by a specialist within two weeks of an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer – (96.0% in Q4 2010-11)
o 94.5% of people urgently referred for breast symptoms (where cancer was not initially suspected) were seen within two weeks of referral (95.5% in Q4 2010-11)- One Month (31-day) wait:
o 98.3% of people began first definitive treatment within 31 days of diagnosis for all cancers – (98.3% in Q4 2010-11)
o 99.0% of people began first definitive treatment within 31 days of diagnosis for breast cancer – (99.2% in Q4 2010-11- Two Month (62-day) wait:
o 86.3% of people began first definitive treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer, for all cancers – (86.3% in Q4 2010-11)
o 97.4% of people began first definitive treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer, for breast cancers – (97.4% in Q4 2010-11)
- 31-day wait for second or subsequent treatment:
o 97.5% of people began treatment within 31 days where the subsequent treatment was surgery – (96.7% in Q4 2010-11)
o 99.7% of people began treatment within 31 days where subsequent treatment was an anti-cancer drug regimen – (99.6% in Q4 2010-11)
o 98.2% of people began treatment within 31 days where subsequent treatment was a course of radiotherapy – (97.8% in Q4 2010-11)- 62-day wait extension:
o 93.4% of people began first definitive treatment within 62 days of a consultant’s decision to upgrade a patient’s priority, for all cancers – (92.8% in Q4 2010-11)
o 92.8% of people began first definitive treatment for cancer within 62 days of referral from an NHS screening service, for all cancers – (93.2% in Q4 2010-11).
UK — Making best use of medicines: Report of a Department of Health roundtable event hosted by The King’s Fund
Making best use of medicines: Report of a Department of Health roundtable event hosted by The King’s Fund
Source: Department of Health
In response to the National Audit Office’s 2007 report Prescribing costs in primary care, the Department commissioned the York Health Economics Consortium and the School of Pharmacy at the University of London to carry out research to determine the scale, causes and costs of waste medicines in England. The report, Evaluation of the Scale, Causes and Costs of Waste Medicines, was published in November 2010
Following this, the Department facilitated a roundtable event hosted by the King’s Fund where representatives of patients, health professionals, the NHS and industry were invited to consider the findings of the research and identify practical next steps that might be taken to help reduce waste, optimise medicine taking and improved health outcomes.
The Department will now facilitate the establishment of a steering group to develop an action plan and report back by early 2012. It is expected that the group will take responsibility for developing and implementing the action plan.
+ Full Report (PDF)
+ Evaluation of the Scale, Causes and Costs of Waste Medicines
UK physical activity guidelines
UK physical activity guidelines
Source: Department of Health
This UK-wide CMOs report presents new physical activity guidelines for all four UK home countries, covering early years; children and young people; adults; and older adults.
This is the first time UK-wide physical activity guidelines have been produced and will help to ensure consistent messaging across the four countries. This report also represents the first time guidelines have been produced in the UK for early years (under fives) as well as sedentary behaviour, for which there is now evidence that this is an independent risk factor for ill health.
Physical activity should be encouraged across the population. The risks of engaging in physical activity are low for most of the population, but the risks of poor health resulting from inactivity are high. There is a clear link between physical activity and chronic disease.
These scientifically informed guidelines will help policy makers and health professionals, as well as individuals themselves to understand how to reduce the risk of ill health associated with inactivity and sedentary behaviours.
UK — Department of Health business plan 2011-2015 (July 2011)
Department of Health business plan 2011-2015 (July 2011)
Source: Department of Health
This revised Business Plan is a core part of the Department’s commitment to the Governments transparency agenda. It sets out the vision and priorities for the Department and the Structural Reform section of the Plan includes key commitments involved in delivering our reform programme up to 2015. The Transparency section of the Plan (which is supported by annexes) sets out the key indicators that we believe are most useful to the public in understanding the costs and outcomes of health and social care services, and also provides a wealth of additional data that the public will find useful
GP patient survey dental statistics, January to March 2011, England
GP patient survey dental statistics, January to March 2011, England
Source: Department of Health
In the most recent quarter (January to March 2011), 1.4 million adults were asked about access to NHS dentistry in the previous 2 years. Participants were asked if they had tried to obtain an appointment with an NHS dentist and if so what was the type of appointment and had they been successful. Patients who hadn’t tried to obtain an NHS dentist in the previous 2 years were asked to select one reason why they hadn’t tried.
The results from the survey responses are presented here at national (England), Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and Primary Care Trust (PCT) level.
Main results
- 515,000 responses, 37% of the 1.4 million people contacted
- 60% of adults in the survey tried to obtain an appointment with an NHS dentist in the 2 year period before January to March 2011 quarter;
- 94% of respondents who tried to obtain an appointment within the past 2 years were successful. 6% were unsuccessful (Success percentages exclude those who didn’t remember the outcome, unless stated otherwise).
- Respondents who have tried more recently are more successful. 96% of respondents trying within the past three months and within the past six months stated they were successful.
For 79% of adults the last appointment sought was for routine dentistry; 17% were seeking an urgent appointment, 3% other type of appointment and 1% could not remember.- 83% of the most recent appointments sought were with the dental practice previously attended. In these cases, the successful percentage over the past 2 years was 96%1;
- For the 14% of patients who sought appointments with a new dental practice in the last two years, 78% were successful, 21% were unsuccessful and 2% couldn’t remember the outcome;
- North East SHA area had the largest percentage of the adult population seeking an NHS dental appointment in the last 2 years, at 66%, whilst South Central SHA had the smallest, where 52% sought an NHS appointment.
- Success in getting an appointment. North East SHA had the largest percentage, with 96% successful over the last 2 years, followed by the East of England and the West Midlands both with 95%. London SHA had the lowest percentage with 92%.
- For patients seeking an appointment in the last 2 years at a practice they had not been to before, North East had the largest percentage successful, with 86%1, North West and Yorkshire and Humber had the smallest (73% ).
UK — Optimising treatment and care for people for people with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
Optimising treatment and care for people for people with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (PDF)
Source: Department of Health
This best practice guide has been designed to support health and social care professionals to determine the best treatment and care for people experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
UK — Assessment of Services to Reduce Diabetes-related Mortality
Assessment of Services to Reduce Diabetes-related Mortality
Source: Department of Health
This workbook was developed by the Health Inequalities National Support Teams (HINST) with 70 local authorities covering populations in England. Local areas could use this approach when analysing whether a population level improvements could be achieved from a set of best-practice and established interventions. This is offered as useful resource for commissioners.
+ Full Document (PDF)
UK — Seasonal flu plan Winter 2011/12
Seasonal flu plan Winter 2011/12
Source: Department of Health
The Seasonal Flu Plan sets out a coordinated and evidence based approach to planning for and responding to the demands of seasonal flu across England. It will provide the public and healthcare professionals with an overview of coordination of preparation for seasonal flu and signposts where further guidance and information can be found
+ Full Document (PDF)
UK — Statement of Government policy on adult safeguarding
Statement of Government policy on adult safeguarding
Source: Department of Health
This document sets out the Government’s policy on safeguarding vulnerable adults. It includes a statement of principles for use by Local Authority Social Services and housing, health, the police and other agencies for both developing and assessing the effectiveness of their local safeguarding arrangements.
+ Full Document (PDF)
Evaluation of nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing in England – key findings and executive summary
Evaluation of nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing in England – key findings and executive summary
Source: Department of Health
This is an independent report commissioned and funded by the Policy Research Programme in the Department of Health. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Department.
The study carried out in England by the Universities of Southampton and Keele evaluates nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing in order to inform planning for current and future prescribers.
The report concludes that nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing is becoming a well-integrated and established means of managing patients’ conditions and providing them with the medicines they need. The research also reports that Nurse and Pharmacist Independent Prescribers are operating safely and prescribing appropriately and that there are high levels of satisfaction among patients being treated by them.
Commissioners of healthcare may wish to consider the findings of this study and potential use of nurse and pharmacist prescribing when commissioning services.
UK — Governance arrangements for research ethics committees: a harmonised edition
Governance arrangements for research ethics committees: a harmonised edition
Source: Department of Health
This document is the policy of the UK Health Departments describing what is expected from the research ethics committees that review research proposals relating to areas of the UK Health Department’s responsibility. It also explains when review by these committees is required.
The policy covers the principles, requirements and standards for research ethics committees, including their remit, composition, functions, management and accountability. It also describes the Research Ethics Service in which the research ethics committees operate and the review they provide.
This harmonised edition comes into effect on 1 September 2011. It revises and replaces editions of the policy previously issued separately in England and Scotland in 2001. It also applies in Wales and Northern Ireland.
+ Full Document (PDF)
UK — The Good Practice Guidelines for GP electronic patient records – version 4 (2011)
The Good Practice Guidelines for GP electronic patient records – version 4 (2011)
Source: Department of Health
The Good Practice Guidelines for GP electronic patient records v4 will act as a reference source of information for all those involved in developing, deploying and using general practice IT systems.
These latest guidelines, issued in March 2011, supersede version 3.1(2005).
- Download The Good Practice Guide for GP electronic records – version 4 (2011) – Full Guidance (PDF, 1752K)
- Download The Good Practice Guide for GP electronic patient records – version 4 (2011) – Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 176K)
- Download Equality Analysis – The Good Practice Guide for GP electronic records – version 4 (2011) (PDF, 78K)
UK — Safe management of healthcare waste
Safe management of healthcare waste
Source: Department of Health
This guidance manual is the second edition and updates the 2006 Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 07-01. This manual was produced in partnership with DH, Defra and Department for Transport and with the full support and co-operation of the Regulators (Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executives) and the Devolved Administrations.
It has been produced as a best practice guide to the management of healthcare waste. The key changes include: an update to statutory requirements; a focus on the waste hierarchy through procurement practices; a drive to address the carbon impact related to waste; the integration of new sector guides on GPs, dental practices, and community pharmacies; an emphasis on practical advice through case study examples (in particular on offensive waste streams), and more by way of staff training material; and, a review of terminology used for healthcare, clinical and non-clinical wastes.
Please note that due to the current review of estates related guidance documents, the Manual no longer displays the HTM 07-01 prefix on the front cover, but in recognition of its links in other documents, reference is retained in the Information Reader Box. This manual is likely to be updated over time.
+ Full Document (PDF)
UK — Mental health promotion and mental illness prevention: the economic case
Mental health promotion and mental illness prevention: the economic case
Source: Department of Health
Mental ill health is the largest single cause of disability in the UK, contributing almost 23% of the overall burden of disease compared to about 16% each for cancer and cardiovascular disease. The economic and social costs of mental health problems in England are estimated at around £105 billion each year.
+ Full Document (PDF)
UK — Strategic high impact changes: childhood obesity
Strategic high impact changes: childhood obesity
Source: Department of Health
The Childhood Obesity National Support Team (CONST), Strategic High Impact Changes document, captures the learning and evidence gathered from the CONST’s 44 visits to local health economies across the country. It translates this learning into what the CONST believe could make the greatest impact in addressing obesity in a local area.
Identifying four key areas for implementation, the document provides researched examples and references evidencing the potential impact of the suggested interventions.
This document is a summary of local views on good practice. The suggested approaches are not mandatory, and reflect learnings from a snapshot in time. Where there is clear established evidence to support interventions, this has been referenced. This document is offered as a useful resource for commissioners, its use is not mandatory.
+ Full Document (PDF)
The Government’s response to the recommendations in front line care: the report of the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England
The Government’s response to the recommendations in front line care: the report of the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England
Source: Department of Health
This is the Government’s response to the 20 recommendations, clustered into seven themes: the socioeconomic value of nursing and midwifery, high quality compassionate care, health and wellbeing, caring for people with long-term conditions, promoting innovations in nursing and midwifery, nurses and midwives leading services, and careers in nursing and midwifery.
+ Full Report (PDF)
UK — Commissioning services for women and children who experience violence or abuse – a guide for health commissioners
Commissioning services for women and children who experience violence or abuse – a guide for health commissioners
Source: Department of Health
This guidance is designed to support health commissioners – in particular those commissioning primary care, mental health services, maternity care and sexual health services – to improve the commissioning of services for women and children who are victims of violence or abuse. Our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for these very vulnerable people, even as the NHS goes through a period of considerable change. This guidance provides suggested outcome measures, case examples (including service specifications to download) and advice on how to include the needs of victims of violence in Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) –with the aim of managing the transition and developing these services in a way which will help them to adapt to the changes to the NHS and public health.
- Download Q&A on Commissioning services for women and children who experience violence or abuse – a guide for health commissioners (PDF, 36K)
- Download Commissioning services for women and children who are victims of violence or abuse – guide for health commissioners EqIA (PDF, 227K)
- Download Commissioning services for women and children who experience violence or abuse – a guide for health commissioners (PDF, 503K)
UK — NHS emergency planning guidance: planning for the management of burn-injured patients in the event of a major incident: interim strategic national guidance
NHS emergency planning guidance: planning for the management of burn-injured patients in the event of a major incident: interim strategic national guidance
Source: Department of Health
This guidance gives best practice guidance to National Health Service (NHS) organisations in planning, preparing and responding to incidents and emergencies that give rise to burn injuries regardless of cause, source or nature. This includes chemical, biological and radiological incidents. The principles apply regardless of the number of patients being treated. The guidance covers adults and children.
+ Full Document (PDF)
UK — Health is Global: an outcomes framework for global health 2011-15
Health is Global: an outcomes framework for global health 2011-15
Source: Department of Health
The Health is Global: An outcomes framework for global health 2011-2015 will focus the UK Government’s efforts to drive forward the global health agenda by 2015. It defines twelve global health outcomes in three overarching areas for action: global health security, international development and trade.
The outcomes framework builds on the very well received cross Government strategy for global health, Health is Global – a UK Government strategy 2008-2013. The strategy aimed to set out how government departments should work together coherently to improve health in the UK and overseas
UK — Quality Governance in the NHS – A guide for provider board
Quality Governance in the NHS – A guide for provider board
Source: National Health Service
The primary purpose of the NHS, and everyone working within it, is to provide a high quality service, free at the point of delivery to everyone who needs it. This common goal unites all those working in the NHS, from hospital doctors, to nurses, to GPs, to dentists, to allied health professionals, to clinical managers and non-clinical staff.
+ Full Document (PDF)
