Website of the Department of Health

2. Mental Capacity Act 2005 commences (Gateway reference number: 7890)

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 will be fully implemented on 1 October 2007.

Action: Directors of adult social services and chief executives of NHS trusts will want to assure themselves that their staff perform in accordance with the Act’s requirements.

• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Guide for Directors of Adult Social Services and Chief Executives of NHS Trusts

3. New legislation for PCT professional executive committees (PECs) (Gateway reference number: 8830)

Following the publication of Fit for the Future in March 2007, legislation to support the guidance is in place and will come into force on 1 October 2007.

Action: NHS chief executives are required to ensure that new PECs are established in line with the legislation, by 1 October 2007.

• New legislation for PCT professional executive committees

4. Continuing care: decision support tools (Gateway reference number: 8723)

On 1 October 2007 the NHS is implementing a new National Framework for access to NHS Continuing Healthcare. This follows on from the publication, in June, of the National Framework for Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives are required to adhere to the directions by 1 October 2007.

Consultations and evaluations

No news this week.

Publications

5. Delivering effective cognitive behavioural therapy (Gateway reference number: 8666)

As part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, a publication has been produced setting out the competences required to deliver effective cognitive and behavioural therapy (CBT) for people with depression and with anxiety disorders.

 Action: NHS chief executives may want to consider this set of standards for the delivery of CBT.

• The competences required to deliver effective cognitive and behavioural therapy for people with depression and with anxiety disorders

6. First quarterly review of NHS foundation trusts (Gateway reference number: 8832)

Monitor’s report shows that the NHS foundation trust sector is in a good position to deliver changes in healthcare required to meet future demand.

Action: NHS chief executives will be interested in the performance of the NHS foundation trust sector with regards to future commissioning arrangements.

• Monitor: NHS foundation trusts - review of three months to 30 June 2007 (opens new window)

7. Delivering Better Oral Health Gateway reference number: 8504)

Delivering Better Oral Health is an evidence-based toolkit commissioned by the Department of Health to help primary care trusts commission appropriate preventive dentistry. 

Action: NHS chief executives and dental commissioning leads can use this new best practice toolkit to commission appropriate preventative dentistry.

• Delivering better oral health: An evidence-based toolkit for prevention

8. New BMA guidance on Choose and Book (Gateway reference number: 8836)

The BMA guidance covers many important areas relating to Choose and Book including appropriate use of the system in both primary and secondary care.

Action: NHS chief executives will find the newly released BMA guidance on Choose and Book useful in increasing usage of Choose and Book in their area.

• British Medical Association: Choose and Book guidance (opens new window)

9. National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) 2007/08 (Gateway reference number: 8780)

The 2007/08 NCMP guidance for PCTs and a revised parent's information leaflet are now available online. 

Action: PCT chief executives will want to ensure that every effort is made to obtain the highest possible coverage for the NCMP in the 2007/08 academic year.

• The National Child Measurement Programme

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

No news this week.