Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and evaluations

No news this week

Publications

1. Coronary heart disease progress report
(Gateway reference number : 9423)

The Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) National Service Framework - seventh annual progress report, published on 18 February, focuses on early achievement of the target to reduce premature deaths from cardiovascular disease and the impact of the £735 million capital programme.

Action: This report is a valuable tool to demonstrate local achievements in treating heart disease

• Coronary heart disease progress report

2. Angioplasty to treat heart attacks
(Gateway reference number: 9116)

An interim report from the National Infarct Angioplasty Project (NIAP), published on 18 February, presents findings from a study into the feasibility of establishing 24/7 primary angioplasty centres to treat heart attacks in place of clot-busting drugs.

Action: The work of the NHS Next Stage Review is directly relevant to these proposals and chief executives should consider the two together.

• National Infarct Angioplasty Project (NIAP) interim report

3. 48-hour access to sexual health clinics
(Gateway reference number : 9329)

The national support team for sexual health have published Genitourinary Medicine 48-hour Access: Getting to Target and Staying There. This sets out key examples of good practice and guidance that will assist local areas in the final push for achieving the GUM 48-hour access target by the end of March 2008 and sustaining it.

Action: There is practical guidance here to help achieve the 2008 target and then maintain that standard in the longer-term.

• Genitourinary Medicine 48-hour Access: Getting to target and staying there

4. Setting local goals for child obesity
(Gateway reference number : 9467)

This guidance provides advice to PCTs and local authorities on how to set goals for local prevalence of child obesity as part of the Vital Signs and the National Indicator Set. 

Action: Interpreting Vital Signs locally in this field is a key task for PCT chief executives and directors of social services.

• How to set and monitor goals for prevalence of child obesity: guidance for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and local authorities

5. National Child Measurement Programme
(Gateway reference number: 9514)

 National Child Measurement Programme 2006/07 school year headline results were published by the NHS Information Centre on 21 February 2008.

Action: The valuable data in this report can feed in to local planning of children's services.

• National Child Measurement Programme (opens new window)

6. Mental health and doctors
(Gateway reference number : 8352)

Professor Louis Appleby has published a report in response to the investigation into the death of a young doctor who suffered mental illness throughout her career.

Action: Important lessons are drawn here to highlight ways that the NHS can support doctors with mental health problems and encourage them to seek early advice.

• Mental health and doctors

7. Introduction of the standard NHS contract
(Gateway reference number: 9464)

This letter sets out the Department of Health’s (DH) expectations regarding the adoption of the new standard NHS contract for acute services. It also clarifies the obligations of foundation trusts in relation to the national requirements of the Operating Framework for 2008/09.

Action: PCT chief executives need to discuss the implications of this letter with foundation trust colleagues.

• Introduction of the standard NHS contract for acute services

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/2008/006
(Gateway reference number: 9513)

Device: Blood glucose meters and test strips: MediSense Optium, Optium Xceed meters manufactured by Abott Diabetes Care; Botts brand meters;  One Touch Ultra test strips manufactured by LifeScan.

Action: This Medical Device Alert was issued on 12 February 2008 to NHS trusts and social services for action.

• MDA/2008/006 - Blood glucose meters and test strips (opens new window)

9. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/007
(Gateway reference number: 9512)

Device: Stretchers/trolleys manufactured by Stryker Medica.

Action: This Medical Device Alert was issued on 12 February 2008 to NHS trusts for immediate action.

• MDA/2008/007 - Stretchers/trolleys manufactured by Stryker Medical (opens new window)