Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and Evaluations

1. Information governance assessments 2007 (Gateway reference number:7839)

Sir Ian Carruthers' letter of 21 August 2006 to SHA chief executives attached importance to the annual information governance compliance statement. This is a reminder that returns for 2007 should be completed by 31 March (ROCR approved ref: ROCR/OR/0119/001). Monitor has approved in respect of NHS foundation trusts. Further details can be found at:

• Information Governance Toolkit (opens new window)

2. Consultation on NHS principles (Gateway reference number 7863)

Closing date for the consultation on NHS principles is 16 March 2007. Once agreed, they will form part of the National Model Contract for hospital services from April 2007. Comments and observations on the draft principles should be sent to nhs.principles@dh.gsi.gov.uk Further details at:

• Consultation on core principles for everyone providing care to NHS patients
• nhs.principles@dh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)

3. Better Care, Better Value Indicators (Gateway reference number: 7842)

The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement is inviting you to comment on how we should improve and extend the reach of the Better Care, Better Value Indicators, which were launched by the NHS Institute, supported by the Department of Health, in October 2006. The following link takes you to the covering letter and consultation paper. Comments should be sent to productivity@institute.nhs.uk

Covering letter and consultation paper:

• Better care better value indicators
• Productivity@institute.nhs.uk (opens new window)

Publications

4. Commissioning conscious sedation services in primary dental care (Gateway reference number: 7787)

This guidance provides advice on strategic commissioning of sedation services in primary dental care, including advice on needs assessment and quality measures. Contact: Simon Hall 020 7633 7908.

• Commissioning conscious sedation services in primary dental care

5. Primary medical services directions (Gateway reference number: 7780)

These Directions were signed on 8 February 2007 and primarily make a small change to Direction 7 of the Directed Enhanced Services (England) Directions 2006, covering the Choice and Booking Scheme. The Directions and a short explanation are available at:

Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services) (England) Directions 2006

• Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services) (England) Directions 2006

6. The National Institute for Health Research health technology assessment (HTA) Gateway reference number: 7696)

This report provides for clinicians, managers and users of the NHS and others interested in research a brief outline of how the HTA Programme works and the progress it has made in the past year. The report is available at:

• Annual Report of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme (opens new window)
• Order via email at mailtodh@prolog.uk.com (opens new window)

7. Healthy futures 5: Sustainable transport and active travel (Gateway Reference 7766)

The Sustainable Development Commission's Healthy Futures publications provide the strategic context for sustainable development and how it can contribute to the NHS's goals of health improvement, reducing health inequalities and improving efficiency. The fifth publication explores the NHS contribution to health, communities and the environment through promoting sustainable transport and active travel.

Available from the Sustainable Development Commission website in Portable Document Format (PDF).

For a hard copy email:

• edna.elcome@sd-commission.org.uk (opens new window)
• Sustainable Development Commission - Sustainable transport and active travel (PDF document) (opens new window)

Conferences and Events - i) what’s new

8. Local hospitals network event with Secretary of State for Health (Gateway reference number 7851)

The Secretary of State for Health will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural event of the Local Hospitals Network, hosted by NHS networks on 21 March 2007. Against a backdrop of reconfiguration, the event is aimed at all those responsible for local hospitals and looking at innovative solutions for clinical and social care. See booking details at:

• NHS Networks (opens new window)

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

9. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/013 (Gateway reference number 7853)

Ltd Device: Lucas external cardiac compressor, manufactured by Jolife AB and distributed by Medtronic.  This Medical Device Alert was issued on 06 February 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/013 (opens new window)

10. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/014 (Gateway reference number 7854)

Device: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare re-usable CPAP respiratory masks and connectors for obstructive sleep apnoea. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 7 February 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/014 (opens new window)

11. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/015 Device: Fluid warming administration set: Smiths Medical Level® normothermic IV fluid administration set.Catalogue number DI-60HL (NHS Supply Chain code FFF265) (Gateway reference number 7855)

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 12 February 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/015 (opens new window)

12. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/016 Device: Patient hoists: Invacare C800 series ceiling track (Gateway reference number 7856)

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 12 February 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/016 (opens new window)