Website of the Department of Health

1. Commissioning a Patient-led NHS

The latest updates on Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS are available at:

• Queries may be addressed to mb-cplnhs@dh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)

Consultations and evaluations

No news this week

Publications

2. Plans to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 (Gateway reference number: 6420)

Briefing sheets on policy areas where changes are proposed are on the website at:

• The Mental Health Bill: Plans to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 - Briefing sheets on key policy areas where changes are proposed

There is also information on the Mental Health Act 1983, the amending Bill and other useful links at:

• Mental health

Telephone 020 7972 4477 or email:

• MentalHealthBill@dh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)

3. Applying for NHS foundation trust status - Guide for mental health NHS trusts (Gateway reference number: 6390)

DH and Monitor have jointly produced a guide for NHS mental heath trusts interested in becoming NHS foundation trusts. The guide covers how trusts can start the process of preparing for NHS foundation status and addresses both opportunities and potential areas of risk.

See:

• Applying for NHS foundation trust status: Guide for mental health NHS Trusts
• Email dh@prolog.uk.com to request hard copies (opens new window)

4. Expansion of Nurse Prescribing and Introduction of Pharmacist Independent Prescribing: opportunities for improving patient care through enhanced team roles and service re-design (Gateway reference number: 6429)

Legislative changes to expand nurse prescribing and introduce pharmacist independent prescribing came into force from 1 May. A revised DH guide for employers and prescribers supports implementation of these changes, which provide new opportunities to re-design services and ensure that patients get improved access to medicines. See

• Improving patients' access to medicines: A guide to implementing nurse and pharmacist independent prescribing within the NHS in England

5. Guidance to PCTs on the data handling of children's height and weight measurements (Gateway Reference 6328)

DH is providing a central data store for child obesity data collected by PCTs for live implementation in June 2006. The central data store supported by a PCT spreadsheet will be accessible via UNIFY, the Department's performance management system. Guidance is available at:

• Measuring childhood obesity: Guidance to PCTs on data handling

6. Choosing Health: Obesity Bulletin Issue 1 (Gateway reference number: 6478)

Obesity is a serious and complex public health issue. PCTs and local authorities have a key role to play in obesity prevention, measurement  and management. This bulletin updates on the Obesity PSA target and delivery strategy and highlights good practice. For further information see:

• Obesity Bulletins

7. NPSA launches secure extranet site (Gateway reference number: 6528)

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has launched a secure extranet site providing comparative feedback and data. It is available to all NHS organisations in England and Wales. These reports will be available on a quarterly basis via a secure site only available within NHS-net. Queries to:

• support@npsa.nhs.uk (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i) what's new

No news this week

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

8. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT - MDA/2006/025 (Gateway reference number: 6527)

Gambro Prisma haemodialysis sets: Prisma M60 Pre Set, Prisma M60 Set, Prisma M100 Pre Set, Prisma M100 Set, Prisma HF1000 Pre Set. Manufactured before the end of October 2005

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 28 April 2006 to NHS trusts for immediate action and update. Further information can be found at:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)