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DH news

A round-up of current Department of Health news and information

MRSA cases lowest ever

MRSA infection rates are at the lowest level since recording began, latest surveillance figures show.It has also been announced that the Health Protection Agency will publish data on MRSA every six months from now on, to keep the public more frequently updated.A statutory hygiene code may now be introduced in hospitals, care homes and nursing homes to ensure they comply with infection controls.Cleanliness and infection control has been a priority for the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) since her appointment last year.The strategy is outlined in key documents including the Matron's Charter and a six-point action plan for cleaner and safer hospitals as well as awareness raising events such as the CNO's Think Clean Day last month.

Pandemic flu plan

A national plan has been launched to deal with any future outbreaks of pandemic flu across the country.As part of The Pandemic Contingency plan, the department will obtain 14.6 million courses of an antiviral drug.Pandemic flu is severe and may affect up to a quarter of the population and, without medical countermeasures, the number of deaths could be over 50,000.Flu pandemics arise when a virus emerges that is different from existing strains. Ordinary vaccines will not be effective and a new one must be made.The plan also sets out how antivirals will be used, strategies for vaccination when one becomes available and other social measures to delay or slow the illness.

Extending prescribing powers

Nurses and pharmacists will have powers to prescribe vital drugs for chronic conditions like diabetes, under new Government plans.Pharmacists will be able to prescribe medicines for a range of common illnesses ranging from acne to tonsillitis, receiving extra training to help them meet patients' needs.They will also be able to take on duties like patient admission, conduct discharge reviews, acute patient management and review patients' medication. Nurses will be able to prescribe independently for long-term conditions, such as diabetes and asthma.A new joint consultation between the Department of Health and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is seeking the views of NHS professionals and other key parties on several prescribing options.The consultation runs until 23 May.

Promoting midwifery amongst other NHS careers

The 2005 NHS Careers campaign is calling for people from a variety of backgrounds and professions to "join the team and make a difference".This year it targets particular professions, such as midwifery, radiography and mental health nursing where there are many opportunities, as well as minority ethnic groups.Last year's campaign enabled 94,000 people to find out about working in the NHS.Since 1997 there has been a big increase in the numbers of new NHS staff; some study for a healthcare profession others are returners to nursing, midwifery, radiography and other career groups.A new partnership agreement between the Department of Health, Jobcentre Plus and the Department of Work and Pensions has been forged to enable local people of all backgrounds to access opportunities.

Managing violent behaviour

New guidance on how to manage disturbed or violent behaviour in psychiatric inpatient settings and emergency departments for the safety of staff and service users has been published.It says that physical restraint should be used as a last resort and measures must be taken to protect the service user.The guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides a comprehensive framework for how to assess risk and prevent violence, how to de-escalate and calm down a potentially violent situation and intervene safely when violence occurs.

Giving sports injuries the red card

A new breed of specialist NHS doctors trained in sports and exercise medicine will play a central role in helping keep the nation fit and healthy.It builds on the aims of the Choosing Health White Paper by focusing not only on treatment but prevention of illness and injury.The specialists will work across the community, including hospitals, schools and professional sports groups, providing specialist help to everyone from people who are reluctant to exercise, right through to the nation's Olympic hopefuls.The new speciality also re-enforces the Government's commitment to backing the London 2012 Olympic bid.

New disciplinary measures for NHS doctors and dentists

New disciplinary measures for NHS doctors and dentists aim to cut the multi-million pound salary bill of suspended NHS staff by speeding-up investigations into their performance from 1 June.The procedures are set out in Maintaining High Professional Standards in the Modern NHS.Most capability cases going to a hearing will be resolved within 13 weeks, compared to 32 weeks at present. The outdated right for consultants on the verge of being sacked to appeal to the health secretary will be abolished.NHS doctors and dentists will be disciplined for misconduct under the same procedures as any other NHS staff member

Last year's public accounts committee report put the cost of delayed disciplinary cases at £40 million a year. Around 70 per cent of the cost was for doctors suspended on full pay and the legal costs of protracted cases.

Patients positive about NHS

NHS hospital patients say they are waiting less time for emergency treatment and outpatient departments, two major national surveys have found.More than three quarters (77 per cent) of A&E patients told the Healthcare Commission they were treated within the Government's four-hour target.Outpatients also reported shorter waiting times, with 80 per cent given an appointment within three months - up five per cent on the previous year. Some patients are unhappy with standards of cleanliness and also want more information to help them to make decisions about their health care.From 1 January, all A&E departments are being judged by the commission against the emergency care standard of seeing, treating, and admitting or discharging all patients in under four hours. The operational standard is 98 per cent.

NHS public forums to be strengthened

The network of Patient and Public Involvement Forums (PPIFs) is to be strengthened by merging existing groups so that there is one per primary care trust.Forums will also get more support to allow them to develop and grow stronger. PPIFs were established in December 2003 to monitor and review health services from the patient's perspective, to seek the public's views about health services and to make recommendations to the NHS based on those views.The merger will mean that forums are strengthened and current member numbers will be retained and are expected to grow further.Fewer, larger contracts with the independent sector will be created to provide staff support to forums and all PPIF chairs will be appointed by the NHS Appointments Commission.A resource centre for Patient and Public Involvement will be developed to provide advice and guidance to PPIFs.

Stroke care improves but more needed

Major improvements have been made to stroke services but more work is needed to ensure all patients get the highest possible care, a report shows.The report comes just weeks before the April deadline when the Department of Health expects all hospitals to have a stroke unit.The latest research by the Healthcare Commission-funded audit shows stroke care provision has risen dramatically since 1998 - more than a third (40 per cent) of patients now spend more half their time in a specialist stroke unit, up from 18 per cent in 1998.Some hospitals are delivering exceptionally high services but the care of others is 'lamentable' - the task must now be to raise standards to all achievable levels, says the report.Carried out by the Royal College of Physicians' clinical effectiveness and evaluation unit on behalf of the Intercollegiate Stroke Network (ISN), the audit is the first to involve all hospitals and results have been published for every NHS trust.

Restrictions on genetic tests for insurers extended

Genetic test results which predict possible future illness will not be used to deny people from getting insurance.

An agreement between the Department of Health and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) extends current restrictions on the use of predictive genetic test results by insurers to November 2011. It's part of a new, wider framework between the two parties which sets out several commitments on the information insurance companies can request. Concordat and Moratorium on Genetics and Insurance is designed to reassure people who may be deterred from taking genetic tests because of the insurance consequences.

Thousands of people have had diagnostic genetic tests, but not many predictive tests. Those of interest to insurers are the BRCA1 & BRCA2 genes, involved with breast and ovarian cancer, and the HD gene, involved with Huntington's disease.

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