Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and evaluations

1. Validation of www.nhs.uk directory information (Gateway reference number: 8184)

See letter to PCT chief executives requesting support for an exercise to validate existing information on GP, dental, pharmacy and optician practices held on www.nhs.uk. The exercise is being carried out in relation to the NHS Choices website implementation.

• Validation of www.nhs.uk directory information

2. A review of the performers list system (Gateway reference number: 8201)

In the White Paper, Trust, Assurance and Safety – the Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century, the Department of Health stated it would undertake a review of the performers list system. The Department is interested in the views of chief executives of PCTs on this subject, and will also consider evidence from others who wish to contribute to the review.

For more detailed information about the terms of reference and background of the review see:

• Performers list review

Publications

3. Choosing Health: 2nd progress report (Gateway reference number 8089)

This report demonstrates where success is being achieved on the Choosing Health White Paper commitments to reduce health inequalities and better tailor health services to meet individual needs. See

• Choosing health progress report - May 2007

4. Implementing care closer to home: Convenient quality care for patients (Gateway reference number: 7954)

The Department of Health has published new best practice guidance to support commissioners and providers of more specialised care in community settings using practitioners with special interests. The guidance also sets out new accreditation arrangements for GPs and pharmacists with special interests. See

• New guidance - Implementing care closer to home: convenient quality care for patients

5. NHS institute business plan (Gateway reference number: 7878)

The NHS Institute has published its 2007/08 business plan which is now available to download on their website (registration on the website is required in order to download). In addition, a summary of this business plan is also available. Hard copies can be obtained from Prolog on 0870 066 2071 or by emailing

• institute@prolog.uk.com (opens new window)
• NHS Institute - Business Plan (opens new window)
• NHS Institute - Business Plan (Summary) (opens new window)

6. Commissioning cochlear implants (Gateway reference number: 8052)

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf and other stakeholders, including representatives of NHS specialised commissioning groups, have published a document for NHS commissioners on provision of cochlear implants. Its purpose is to provide comprehensive information to support informed commissioning decisions. It is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) at

• RNID: Cochlear implants - Commissioning guidelines (PDF 312kb) (opens new window)

7. Mobile phone usage guidance (Gateway reference number: 8183)

Following the publication of the Patient Power Review Group report on 23 February 2007, the Department of Health committed to producing further best practice guidance for NHS trusts, in addition to that produced in August 2006. See

• Using mobile phones in NHS hospitals

Conferences and events - i) what's new

8. National conference: Direct payments (Gateway reference number: 8190)

A free conference for senior local authority staff and direct payment champions that will showcase how to overcome the barriers in offering direct payments to social care service users is taking place on Monday 21 May in Manchester. More information at:

Conference and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

9. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/032 (Gateway reference number: 8197)

Device: Point of care blood glucose measurement systems: HemoCue. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 25 April 2007 to NHS trust for immediate action. Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/032 (opens new window)

10. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/033 (Gateway reference number: 8198)

Device: Umbilical cord clamp clipper manufactured by Unomedical Ltd.
Product reference: 84006182.
NHS supply chain catalogue codes: FFK004.
Lot numbers of affected devices: 102042, 118951, 121457, 115363, 134481, 136591, 142538, 152668, 146675, 151168, and 155746. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 26 April 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/033 (opens new window)