Website of the Department of Health

Communications research

Description – Summaries of communications research findings.
Available – Every six months.
Cost – Free on DH website.

• Communications research

DH Guide

This Guide was produced for all staff at DH, full-time, part-time, on secondment or contractors. It aims to help everyone make sense of DH. It may also be useful to those outside DH who wish to know more about how we operate but it should be read on the basis that it is written for staff internally. The attached Glossary will aid all readers where DH-specific terminology is used.  

Cost - free on DH website

• The DH Guide

Data protection subject access request handling guide

Description - contains the procedure followed by the Freedom of Information, Records and Data Protection Unit, in response to requests for access to personal data.
Availability - current.
Cost - Free on DH web site.

• Download Data Protection Act 1998 subject access request handling guide (in Portable Document Format) (PDF, 488K)

Department of Health finance handbook series

Description - provide the definitive guidance on the operation of the Department of Health's finance, budgetary control and accounting systems.
Availability - current.
Cost - Free on DH website.

• The Internal Guidance Database

Department of Health retention schedule

Description - the schedule for retention and disposal of the Department of Health’s business records.
Availability - current.
Cost - Free on DH website.

• Department of Health retention schedule

Departmental security policy statement

Description - A policy statement made by the Permanent Secretary/Chief Executive regarding security in the Department of Health.
Availability - Current.
Cost - Free on DH Web-site.

• Departmental security policy statement

Guidance on business planning

Description - an internal guide designed to enable directors and their teams to start work on the preparation of plans.
Availability - Current.
Cost - Free on DH Web-site.

• The Internal Guidance Database

Guide to managing the relationship between the department and its arm's length bodies

Description - This guidance document provides a number of pointers for Senior Departmental Sponsors (SDSs) in the performance management of their arm's length bodies (ALBs).
Available - Current.
Cost - Free on DH web site.

• Guide to managing the relationship between the department and its arm's length bodies

NHS factsheets

Description - NHS Factsheets are internal Department of Health briefing sheets on individual Strategic Health Authorities and NHS Trusts. They contain organisational information, contact details and selected published statistical information. All NHS Factsheets are updated regularly.
Available - Current.
Cost - Free on DH web site.

• NHS Factsheets

Personnel directory of guidance

Description - presents comprehensive and up to date guidance on all terms and conditions of service, and on all personnel systems operative within the Department of Health.
Availability - Current.
Cost - Free on DH Web-site.

• The Internal Guidance Database

Procurement guide

Description - This guide outlines the main considerations and processes involved in making a purchase on behalf of the Department of Health.
Availability - Current.
Cost - Free on DH web site.

• Desk guide to procurement - 2005 edition