Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and evaluations

1. Independent review into diversion away from prison (Gateway reference number: 9394)

This consultation letter is being issued to a wide range of interested stakeholders who are invited to contribute to the review, which relates to offenders with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives and directors of social care are asked to respond by 28 February 2008. 

• Independent review of the diversion of individuals with mental health problems from the criminal justice system and prison

Publications

2. Information governance assurance programme (Gateway reference number: 9344)

David Nicholson wrote to SHA chief executives on 15 January to clarify the next steps required of NHS organisations for the current review of information governance. Full details of the work involved and reporting deadlines for chief executives can be found in the NHS information governance toolkit.

Action: NHS chief executives need to provide assurance against a set of security standards by 31 March 2008 and to provide interim reports to SHAs by 31January 2008 and 29 February 2008.

• Information Governance Toolkit (opens new window)

3. New guide to community engagement (Gateway Reference number: 9338)

A report called ‘Dialogue of Equals’ has been published. It provides guidance on community engagement, with particular emphasis on involving seldom-heard communities.

Action: There is advice here for NHS and local authority chief executives on consulting and engaging with local communities.

• A Dialogue of Equals

4. The Productive Ward Programme (Gateway reference number: 9364)

The 15 modules that make up Releasing Time to Care: The Productive Ward are now available at no cost to the NHS in England. The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement is also offering two membership packages to support trusts in implementing the productive ward modules.

Action: Access more information on improving the quality, safety and reliability of key care processes in a sustainable way at:

• NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement: Releasing Time to Care - The Productive Ward (opens new window)

5. Human papilloma virus vaccines (Gateway reference number: 9417)

In October 2007 the Department of Health announced that routine vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV) infection - the cause of cervical cancer - will start from September 2008, for girls aged 12 to 13 years. A two-year catch-up programme will start from September 2009 for girls up to age 18.  Further information is being made available on the website.

Action: Materials to support PCTs as they prepare to implement HPV vaccination can be found at:

• NHS Immunisation Site (opens new window)

6. Right Time, Right Place report on young people (Gateway Reference: 9166)

This report is from the children's national service framework (NSF) development projects for psychological well-being and mental health, 2005-2007, funded by the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. It summarises learning to assist the delivery of accessible services for vulnerable groups of young people, and demonstrates some successful ways of investing to save, while leading to improved service responses.

Action: The report’s findings may help inform chief executives on the provision of comprehensive children and mental health services (CAMHS).

• Children Young People and Families Programme: Right Time, Right Place - Learning from the Children's NSF Development Initiatives for Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health (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

7. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/002 (Gateway reference number: 9414)

Device: Birthing beds. Huntleigh Healthcare Birthright and Hoskins Birthcare.

Action: This Medical Device Alert was issued on 15 January 2008 to NHS trusts for action/update.

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/002 (opens new window)

8. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/003 (Gateway reference number: 9415)

Device: Total knee replacement implants. VKS, RT-Plus and TC-Plus femoral and tibial knee components manufactured by Plus Orthopaedics/Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ltd (specific lot numbers).

Action: This Medical Device Alert was issued on 16 January 2008 to NHS trusts for immediate action/ update/ information request.

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/003 (opens new window)